integrated coastal zone management project west ... - Iczmpwb.org

12small estuary to the east is Jalda creek where salt marshes and sedges (Fimbristylis spp andCyperus spp) dominate.Fauna13. Digha-Sankarpur area under Ramnagar Block-I in the western coastal stretchcontributes a rich fishery from middle August to middle February of the year. Edible fishdiversity of Digha-Sankarpur coast has been estimated from landing statistics as below:Tenulosa ilisa, Pama pama, Setipinna spp., Trichiurus spp, Harpodon nehereus, Coilia spp.,Ilisha elonhata, Sciaena biauritus, Polynemus indicus, Chirocentrus doral, Prawns –(Penaeus monodon, Acetes spp., Macrobrachium rosenbergii), Tachydurus jella, Stromateuscinereus, Polynemus peradiseus, Coilia sppp, etc. The efficiency and operating range oftraditional fishing activities have undergone drastic changes in recent years (from about1987) due to the impact of mechanization of fishing craft and by use of synthetic fibers forgears (specially trawling). The total marine catch has increased with regard to fishing areaand coastline (Table below)YearTotal catch(000 tonnes)No of mechanizedboatsCalculated CPUE(tones per boat)2000 – 01 106.32 3622 3.262001-02 107.32 3556 3.092002-03 107.51 4175 2.862003-04 108.5 4481 2.69However, the data indicate that during the last five years the total fish catch has shown onlymarginal increase in spite of significant increase in fishing effort. Thus catch per unit effort(considering mechanized boat only) has shown considerable decline pointing to nonsustainabilityof fishing in this part of the coast in future. Presently 143 species of finfish and19 species of shellfish (crustaceans) are reportedly available at the landing stations of Digha-Sankarpur area.14. The main fish landing centres are located in and around Digha, i.e., Digha Mohona,Sankarpur, Jalda and new Jalda (Dadanpatrabar). The majority of landed catch is transportedto Kolkata and other markets of south directly. Hilsa constitutes the major (20%) portion ofthe fish catch (Table below)12