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

Chilika Lake
fare to ever increasing number of tourists and
consequent environmental problems to the fragile
lagoon environment. The current year witnessed a
relatively fall in the concentration of migratory
birds at the Nalabana Bird Sanctuary. This has
been attributed to disappearance of the grass P.
karka due to remarkable increase of salinity at
the central sector, particularly after opening of the
second mouth since September 2000. As a
consequence the birds spread to other areas of the
lagoon, and their concentration at the northern
sector, near Bhusandapur and Kalupadaghat
area, is on increase. This in turn has come as a
boon for bird hunters and poachers in the said
localities (The Times of India, Orissa Speicial,
New Delhi, January 12, 2001 p.6). Through the
river streams of Daya and Bhargavi at the north,
and Malguni, Kusumi and Salia at west, heavy
loads of sediment are being poured into the lagoon
(Patanaik, 2002). The northern sector in
particular witnesses weed infestation at an
alarming rate as a consequence of heavy siltation
along with nutrient enrichment and
eutrophication.
ii. Anthropogenic
Historically; Chilika has been serving as a shelter
for human habitation providing access to both
land and sea. From time Immemorial, the lake has
been put to use for variety of uses - agriculture,
fishing; aquaculture, inland water transport,
exploitation of mineral, recreation, tourism,
dumping of wastes etc. Over fishing has depleted
fish stocks. Although hunting is banned, between
15,000and 20,000 water birds are kIlled each year
by poachers. Hunting and poaching is more
common among rehabilitated as well as illegal
immigrants from Bangaldesh and certain local
communities in villages, Bhusandhapur,
Kalupadaghat, Sorona, Kumandala etc., located
in the northern sector of Chilikli. Despite stringent
laws and tight vigil imposed by the state
administration, poaching of birds in the region
goes unabated (The Times of India, New Delhi,
Orissa Special, p.6 January 12, 2002). A welldressed
bird weighing about 2 kg are available at
Rs. 50 to 100/-. Unfortunately, with the availability
of consumers and the demand for bird meat, it has
become a seasonal business for the past decade
(The New Indian Express, Bhubaneswar,
January 7, 2002).
anthropogenic activities. The annual fish catch
from the lake is ca. 6000 tonnes. Fish landing
record during the period 1957-2000 has shown
consistently decrease in percentage composition of
Hilsa ilisha, Chanos chanos, Elops machnata,
Megalops cyprinoides, Rhinomugli cosula and
Rhabdosargus bedra. During the last two
decades, these species were hardly seen in the
catches indicating depletion of fish diversity in the
lagoon (Mohanty, 2002). Irrational introduction of
exotic fish species has also been reported
(Mohanty,2002). The concomitant mushrooming of
brackish water fish firms, fish landing and
processing centres following the prospects of 'blue
revolution' (boom in aquaculture), all together
pose a potential threat to the fragile ecosystem of
Chilika (Directorate of Fisheries, 1997). Increasing
shallowness coupled with more use of fishing nets
at the outer channel obstruct the free natural
movement of fish and prawn adults and larvae
into Chilika, eventually affecting adversely the fish
yIeld of the lake.
iii. Potential
Tourism impacts can be classified as direct or
indirect. Direct impacts are caused by the
presence of tourists and indirect by the creation of
tourism infrastructure, habit modifications. The
potential impacts of tourism development on
Chilika include 1. Increase of waste disposal in
form of sewage and sludge leading to
eutrophication, 2. Release of vehicular (motorized
boat and motor launch) oil, fuel and fumes causing
aquatic pollution, 3. Noise pollution, 4.
Introduction of alien species, 5.Development of
excessive trails and tracks inside Chilika, 6.
Proposed floating restaurants etc. All the above
will have adverse impact on the Chilika's fragile
ecosystem.
iv. Threats to the local dependent populations
Over one lakh traditional fishermen depend on the
lagoon for their livelihood
Over one lakh traditional fishermen depend on the
lagoon for their livelihood (Directorate of
Fisheries, 1997). Fisheries directly support a
population of 127,000,while associated industries
and marketing operations support at least another
50,000 (Trisal, 2002). The large-scale presence of
illegal prawn gheries (partitions) however has
made their life miserable by not only reducing the
The past few decades have witnessed the near toll catch drastically, but turning the lake into a
of the Chilika lagoon following mainly unrelenting veritable ground of violence and bloodshed.
economic exploitation and attendant According to an official estimate, annual catch
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