Fish count in Kadalundi river declines, says study

KOZHIKODE: A study by a research scholar reveals that the fish count in the Kadalundi river is on a significant decline. Variation in rainfall, muddy blocks in the river and presence of plastic are contributing to the decline in fish count in the river where once native fish varieties were in abundance.

"A fisherman has to struggle for two or three hours to get same common fishes that were easily available earlier," says Dr Ali Akshad Marakkattil, who got Ph.D. from Bharathidasan 

University for his study titled 'Ecology and biodiversity of estuarine ecosystems of Kadalundi River'.

There are close to 38 varieties of fish in the river including Malan (Liza macrolepis), Kathichooda (Ambassis gymnocephalus), Irumeen (Oreochromis niloticus), Karimeen (Etroplus suratensis) etc. 

"Kadalundi is an estuary where river meets the deep sea. The dumping of thick layers of mud from the sea into the waterways of the river during summer is a severe threat to the aquatic system. It affects the habitat of fish species. The special species living hidden between the stones in the river are also losing their habitat as these areas are sealed with mud blocks," says Mr Marakkattil. The guest species of the rainy season; Pooyan (Rasbora daniconius), Kuythi (Scatophagus argus), Valathan (Megalops cyprinoids) are absent these days. 

The umpteen plastic bottles dump at the bottom also spoil the fish habitat. The study was centered on Heros Nagar, Palakkal and Keezhayil areas of Kadalundi. The study was made under Dr O. Sathick, Assistant Professor at Bharathidasan University, Trichy.