• Anitha S

Inland fisheries is the farming and husbandry of aquatic creatures under regulated or semi-regulated environmental conditions. These organisms may be fishes, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic plants and animals. Various types of aquaculture form an important component within agricultural and farming systems development. These can contribute to the alleviation of food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty through the provision of food of high nutritional value, income and employment generation. Here an attempt is made to study the facts and figures regarding Inland Fisheries in Kerala and the share of it in the State’s Gross Domestic Product. Kerala occupies an inimitable position in the fisheries map of India’s principal marine fish producer and exporter state in the country. Fish and fishery resources occupy a unique position in the economy of Kerala. The contribution of this sector to the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) is 1.26 per cent. The fishery sector provides livelihood for more than 3 per cent of the State either directly or indirectly, with about 2 lakh fishermen directly engaged in fisheries and other related activities. The total fish production of the State is 6.34 lakh tons. Marine capture fisheries which accounts for 76 per cent of the total fish caught has been showing a stagnant/ decreasing trend. It is in this context that the importance of inland fisheries, presently contributing 1.46 lakh tons of fishes to the total fish production of the State, is bound to increase. The technological development in the inland fisheries paved the way for making use of inland water resources spread over the different districts of the State for aquaculture development. The State of Kerala is blessed with abundant resources for the development of aquaculture. The total extent of inland water areas in Kerala is estimated to be of the order of 3 , 60,535 ha. Of this, the brackish water sprawl over 2,42,600 ha. and freshwater areas amounts to 1, 17, 935 ha. Of this potential only a small proportion is being utilized now. Aquaculture has grown into a high value activity practiced not only by small and marginal farmers but also by commercial entrepreneurs. The change is more visible in the case of coastal aquaculture, where, culture of shrimp constitute the major component both in terms of area under culture and value of output. The rivers, streams etc., originated from the Western Ghats are well known for their prosperity of biodiversity including fresh water fish species. Altogether 210 primary fishes (excluding the marine migrants) are found in the inland waters, of which 53 species are endemic. Majority of these fish species have ornamental value also. The brackish water fishes of Kerala include 75 species, which include 57 fish species, 6 species of shrimp, 1 species of prawn, 5 species of crabs and 6 species of bivalves. Among this 28 species are commercially important. This includes some species of mullets, catfishes, perches, pearl spot, shrimp, prawn, the green mussel brown mussel, the Indian backwater Oyster locally known as ‘Kadalmuringa’ and mud crabs like Scylla Serrata and Scylla tranquibarrica. Many of these species are suitable for aquaculture. There are about 106 species of fishes in the inland waters of Kerala that have importance as ornamental species. The important ornamental fishes of Kerala are Red line torpedo fish, Aurulibarb, Rosy barb, Tiger barb,Tictobarb, Kooliebarb,Melon barb, Glass fish, Yellow cat fish etc.

Inland Fisheries Statistics in Kerala

"Inland Fisheries Statistics in Kerala", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.4, Issue 9, page no.733-738, September-2017, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1709110.pdf

"Inland Fisheries Statistics in Kerala", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.4, Issue 9, page no. pp733-738, September-2017, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1709110.pdf