Efforts from India's CMFRI boosts clam production in Vembanad Lake

CMFRI’s initiative of relaying baby clams in various sites in the Vembanad facilitated increasing the clam production which in turn helped fishers harvest around 10 tonnes of clam per day from two areas of the Lake. Aimed at boosting the clam fishery and enhancing livelihood options for the clam fishers in the region, the Molluscan Fisheries Division of CMFRI re-laid (stocked) baby clams after identifying suitable areas on the northern side of the Thanneermukkom Barrage. As part of this initiative, which was under a project on "Rejuvenation of Clam" taken up by the Fisheries Department of Kerala using the District Panchayat Scheme, approximately 200 tonnes of baby black clams were re-laid in Keecheri and Chakkathukadu areas of the Vembanad Lake under the technical guidance of CMFRI. According to the CMFRI scientists, the initiative is expected to bring out a production of nearly 1,500 tonnes from these sites which is more than seven-fold of the re-laid baby clams. The long ...