Kerala: Clam breeding project brings ray of hope to local populace

ALAPPUZHA: The clam breeding sanctuaries introduced by the fisheries department in Vemabanad lake last year have revived the hopes of over 5,000 local people  who depend on the traditional business for their livelihood.  The clam collection in the wetland area  spread over 36,500 hectares and fed by six large rivers and seawater had declined in recent years  due to various factors like climate change, illegal clam mining,  river pollution and lack of  salinity of  the lake.

The department had created five sanctuaries  in Thanneermukkom, Muhamma, Vechur, Kavalam and Aryad areas to tide over the situation.   According to the scientists of  the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), the deposited seeds were growing from 17mm to 23 mm in the sanctuaries.   Dr. K. Sunil Mohamed, head, molluscan fisheries division, CMFRI, said that the morality rate of the juvenile clams laid in the sanctuaries three months ago had been low. “It will take at least six-month  growth to reach the full circle,” he said.     

The reproductive populations are healthy compared to other similar locations in the lake.  “The conservation intervention is  sustaining the lake ecology, its biodiversity and helping the livelihood of the local clam collectors,” he added.  As part of the project,  women have been given special training to create value-added products out of clam shells. A female clam can lay one to two lakh eggs during breeding time under favourable conditions  in the eco system.  

“The optimum point of salinity for clam breeding is from 10 ppt,” said Mr Ashish Mathew George, programme officer, Comm-unity Environmental Resource Centre (CERC) of Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).  The lack of a mix of saline and freshwater has affected fish and clam species  following the construction of Thannermukkam bund in 1975, which was built to check the ingress of sea water into the paddyfields.   Mr K.M. Poovu, secretary,  lake protection forum, said  the rehabilitation project had restored the hopes of the clam collectors.    “The illegal clam collection with banned motors depleted  the clam wealth. We have started awareness campaigns  to protect the wealth,” said  Mr V.P. Manoharan, president of  the  forum.