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

Table 8. Livestock population in some of the representative villages of Pulicat Lake.
Pulicat Lake
SINo Villages Callie Bullalo Goal Sheep Poultry Others
1 Pulica! 238 196 254 85 568 -
2 Kotlaikuppam 124 48 156 25 341
3 Ligh! House Kuppam 28 25 65 - 138
4 Edamani 51 32 94 35 184
5 Annamaaicheri 130 70 98 25 149 -
6 Arambakkam 125 110 30 240 415 -
7 Elavur 145 87 240 80 543
8 Sunnambukulam 265 316 201 - 588 -
9 Arumbakkam 190 90 115 20 412 .
10 Nochikuppam 60 70 20 115 213 -
11 New Gummudipoondi 317 216 413 63 718 -
12 Old Gummudipoondi 215 344 217 37 618 -
13 Thonirevu 24 15 68 18 178 .
14 Naduvurma!ha Koil kuppam 68 25 98 15 189 -
15 Thulukapalayam 30 12 64 14 165 -
16 Vairavankuppam 25 12 168 - 216 -
17 Arangan 10 8 96 21 224 -
18 Thandalom 22 12 86 - 218 -
19 Koonangkuppam 124 -
20 Katlupakkam 9 5 36 - 85 -
21 Andikuppam 36 18 85 17 235 -
Source: Assistant director. Animal HuslJandl'J) PonDer}, 2001.
However the industry is in doldrums because of a
viral attack (Vasanth et ai, 1990)'
Among the various fishes rabbitfishes in
aquaculture had been occupying markets in
Israel, USA, Singapore, Japan, etc. This species is
also abundant in Pulicat Lake with an average
count of 5000 juveniles (dominated by Siganidae
javus), through out the region indicating its
potential in the aquaculture (Vasanth et ai, 1990).
Pulicat Lake, has an average depth of 1.5 meters,
which incidentally is the optimum depth for
shrimp growth. Pulicat could be developed as a
"Giant pond" for shrimp farming through juvenile
stocking. Pulicat Lake would yield 11250 tones of
shrimp per year. Calculating even at a very low
rate of about Rs. 60 per kg of shrimp, or Rs 60,000/
- per tonne the total income from shrimp yield
alone from the Pulicat Lake would amount to an
incredible RS.67 crores per year. If this amount
were equitably distributed among around 30000
fisherfolk participating in this, it would work out
to an enviable figure Rs. 1860/- per head per
month (Sanjeevaraj, 1994). Also there is great
potential for poly-culture in the lake, through
stocking it with wild or hatchery-produced seed of
the mud-crabs (Scyhlla serrata and Scylla
157
tranquebarica), variety of native brackish water
finfish like mullets (Mugil spp.), Pearl-Spot
(Etroplus maculates), Thread-Fin
(Eleutheronema te'tradactylus) and Milk Fish
(Chanos chanos), avoiding predator fish like cat
fishes and the Bhekti or Sea bass (Lates
calcarifer), etc (Kaliyamurthy et ai, 1977).
Realizing the potential and demand, the
aquaculture industry has taken a giant leap
through induction of latest technologies. However,
uncontrolled expansion of brackish water
aquaculture farms and their intensive farm
practices create several environmental issues like
salination of agriculture land and fresh water
sources.
VI. Threats to Bioresource
I. Natural and Environmental
The bar mouth plays an important role in
estuaries in maintaining a dynamic state of
environmental condition induced by tidal
incursion from the sea and discharge from the
river. The influx from the sea is greatly responsible
for minimizing fluctuations in physico-chemical
conditions in lagoons. Ingression of fish and prawn
seed is affected through the mouth of estuaries