Asian-Pacific Aquaculture 2019

June 19 - 21, 2019

Chennai Tamil Nadu - India

AN ADAPTIVE STRATEGY FOR ENHANCEMENT OF CLAM FISHERIES USING CLIMATE RESILIENT MULTI-TROPHIC SYSTEM IN VEMBANAD LAKE

*Thankam Theresa Pau1l, Kuberan G2, Preetha Panikker3, Deepa Sudheesan 4, S. Manoharan5, Usha. U6, U.K. Sarkar7 and B.K.Das8
* Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi Station, CMFRI campus,Kochi-682018
*Corresponding email id : thankamtheresa@gmail.com
 

Many fishing communities in tropical countries are dependent on stocks that exhibit regular fluctuations relative to climatic variations and hence there is an ardent need to combat the unsteady production from these systems. In this background, a study has been taken up on clam resource (Villorita cyprinoides) in Vembanad lake as an example in tropical countries which has exhibited depletion across the years. The study site, Thycattussery area had a clam bed of 28 ha with estimated production of  296.86 kg/ha as reported during 1988-1989 and has reduced now to 17 kg/ha (Kurup, 1990). So the adaptation strategy for stock replenishment using culture technologies was done at Thycattussery area. Clams were chosen for aquaculture system in Climate Resilient Pen Structures (CRPS) by utilizing the multi-trophic levels in the aquatic ecosystem as it is was a sessile filter feeder utilizing bottom niche and it ensured conversion of the atmospheric carbon to blue carbon and thus acting as a carbon sink. Small and large clams collected from the wild (Paathiramannal) were segregated and stocked at the rate of 5000 nos/ sq.m and 2000 nos/sq.m approximately and an overall 650 kg of baby clams were stocked in the pens where in the culture was taken up for a year. The annual growth rate of clams was assessed in terms of length and weight as 14.23mm/year and 47.98g/year. The average production obtained from the pen was 2000kg. The culture earned a revenue of Rs. 26,300 from sales of clam meat and clam shell. The meat and the shell was separated, washed and sold at Rs. 100/kg whereas the shell was sold at Rs. 3500/tonne. The system has a BCR of 1.28 indicating feasible production system. The CRPS not only could with stand climatic vagaries but also acted as a carbon assimilation as well as blue carbon sink system. This would be a suitable technology to support better livelihood for the associated fisher communities and female family members in the inland aquatic system where in double income from fishes as well as clams are ensured. The technology not only would provide a better livelihood but also act as a carbon sink which would help in reducing the carbon emissions from wetlands so as to curb global climate change.