06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

fish Gerres lucidus (Kaliyamurthy et al 1990) the
Penaid post-larvae in relation to lunar, diurnal
and tidal periodicity at the lake mouth was
studied by Subramanyam and Rao and Rao (1973).
The ecological studies like assessment of the
abundance of prawn post larvae at the lake mouth
(Gopalakrishnan, 1972; Raman and Gopinathan,
1973) and the availability of post larval prawns in
relation to various ecological parameters
(Gopinathan, et all information on the distribution
of prawn post larvae inside the lake (Gopinathan.
1978). The latest information on the vegetation of
the Pulicat region that fall under Andhra Pradesh
Nellore district is documented by Suryanarayana
and Sreenivasa Rao, 2002.
In 1984 the CReNIO (Centre For Research On New
International Economic Order) institute was
started to work with associated problems of the
Pullcat Lake. Madras Christian College research
scholars also conducted intensive study in crabs,
behavioral patterns and etc. World Wild Life
(WWF) is also actively participating in educating
local people in various aspects.
• Traditional mechanism 01 Shoreline and
inland protection: The Pulicat system has
supported an ever-increasing population for
centuries through its aquatic flora and fauna.
Fishes form the major resource for livelihood
security for the villages surrounding the lake.
The demand and supply of the system is
managed through a traditional fishing system
called 'Paadu system'. 'Paadu' literally means,
"fishing site" is unique in management of fish
resources through temporal and spatial
allotment or agreement to harvest the fish
among the different villages. Present fishing
grounds that fall under paadu systems are
given in annexure V. These fishing grounds fall
within a radius of 5 km from the bar mouth of
the lake (fig. 6), where the salinity of the water
is better maintained and the drying up of the
lake is less extreme. (Mathew, 1991).
The paadu system is caste-specific, gear specific
and area specific (Mathew, 1991). There is three
designated fishing grounds: -
• Vadakku paadu- is to the west of the bar
mouth in a north. south axis, stretching from
Pullcat Lake. Area spread is 1.25 km 2
• Munthurai paadu- is spread out, the other
paadus are in the shape of canal. Area spread
is 2.50 km 2
151
Pulicat Lake
Figure 6 : Fishing Grounds of Pulicat Lake.
Source: Mlltnew .1991
• Odai paadu- is the least productive and is
almost abandoned by the paadu fisherman now.
Area spread is 0.45 'km 2.
The paadu system practiced in this lake is unique
because of its caste-based distribution of access
and rights. It may be defined as a traditional
system of granting entitlements to eligible members
of a particular community for undertaking
specified fishing activities in certain desiguated
fishing grounds of the Pulicat Lake. Considering
the distribution of fishery resources in the lagoon
waters, the limitations of the fishing ground and
the preponderance of fisherman around the lake,
it is clear that the paadu system has contributed
to the sustainability of the lagoon fishery. In spite
of the fact that conservation of the resources is not
the principal aim of the paadu system the control
over access rights limiting them only to the
members of the paadu system perhaps has
indirectly contributed towards preventing a
collapse of the lagoon fishery.