Inland Fisheries

5.5.3.5 East coast

Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh are rich in bivalve resources. However, their utilization for human consumption is very negligible. Information on bivalve fishery in the northeastern states like Orissa and West Bengal are not available. Very extensive beds of clams are found in various sites of Tamil Nadu coast including Adayar and Athankarai estuaries, Andhra Pradesh coast. The clam, Meretrix casta is common along the east coast also. Some other species such as Katelysia opima, Paphia and Gafrarium are also found in good numbers in coastal areas. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have several bivalve resources among which the black lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, the giant clams Tridacna maxima, T. squamosa, T. crocea and Hippopus hippopus are gathered for the tourism based ornamental shell industry. Perna viridis and economically important clams like Paphia spp. are used occasionally. In the Lakshadweep Islands, local people collect the giant clams.