FIRST REPORT ON FISHRY RESOURCES FROM FOUR ESTUARIES IN TRIVANDRUM DISTRICT, KERALA, INDIA

Nansimole A.; Sruthi S.; Gayathri Devi T.V.; Tresa Radhakrishnan

Volume : III, Issue : XII, December - 2014

FIRST REPORT ON FISHRY RESOURCES FROM FOUR ESTUARIES IN TRIVANDRUM DISTRICT, KERALA, INDIA

Nansimole A. , Sruthi S. , Gayathri Devi T. V. , Tresa Radhakrishnan

Abstract :

First report on the status of fisheries and seasonal variation in fish diversity in four selected estuaries (Pozhiyoo r,Adimalathura,Poonthura and Kappil) of Trivandrum district, Kerala are included. During the present study, 134 species of fin fishes (belonging to 51 fin fish families), 6 species of Penaeid shrimps, 3 species of Palaemonid prawns, 7 species of crabs , 5 species of bivalves (4 mollusca families) were noticed. Fin fishes were the major group. Some of the fish species in the estuaries were observed as �threatened� (Horabagrus achysoma, Channa striatus, Channa marulius, Heteropneustes fossilis, Wallago attu and Parambassis thomasi). The study implies that temporal changes in fish landing pattern of the estuaries were mainly due to environmental variability, habitat modification and fish migration; under the influence of south-west monsoon and anthropogenic activities. Assessment is urgently needed on the spatial scales and dynamics of species richness from point samples to assemblages, impact on habitat and landscapes, especially in coastal areas of the tropics where threats to diversity are the greatest.