The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Fish varieties vanishing from State's backwaters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 05, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Fish varieties vanishing from State's backwaters

Staff Reporter

Eloor-Varappuzha barren and contaminated, says report

KOCHI: Unbridled sand-mining in most of the rivers in the State has resulted in changes in the river ecosystem and dwindling of fish wealth.

This has also led to the endangering of many endemic and endangered fish species of the State, according to the State of the Environment Report 2005.

The discharge of heavy metals, such as copper, mercury, zinc and cadmium, above permissible levels has also led to the destruction of aquatic environment. Fishes inhabiting the polluted water bodies are facing reproductive hazards, growth retardation, and morphological abnormalities apart from the destruction of eggs and larvae.

The report has indicated that the Eloor-Varappuzha regions of Kochi backwaters have been transformed into barren and contaminated zone.

According to the report, the fishery resources of the backwaters and estuaries of Kerala were depleting at an alarming rate. The annual fish landing from Vembanad backwaters was around 16,000 tonnes during the late Seventies. However, this has declined to the tune of 7,200 tonnes in recent years.

Fish varieties like Thirutha, Kanambu, Poomeen, Kalanchi, Chempally, Karachemmeen and Prachil that were once reported to be exceedingly common in the State's water bodies have almost disappeared. Pearl Spot, the signature fish of the State, is also showing reduction in Vembanad backwaters and Ashtamudi estuary.

Reclamation

The massive reclamation of backwaters for agriculture, urbanisation, housing, aquaculture and port construction has drastically reduced the extent of the Kerala backwaters. According to an early study, the brackish water coverage of the State has come down to 61,200 hectares in 1990 from the 2.5 lakh of the Fifties.

The "glaring reduction" in the depth of the backwaters has also been noticed during the recent years due to the afforestation carried out in the catchment areas for agriculture and allied activities, the report said.

The carrying capacity of the lakes of the State, especially the backwaters and low-lying areas of Greater Cochin area to the extent of 500 sq. km. has been reduced drastically, said N.R. Menon, director of the Centre for Integrated Coastal Zone Management of the Cochin University of Science and Technology.

He suggested that strict restrictions should be imposed on the reclamation of low-lying areas and backwaters.

Restrictions sought

According to B. Madhusoodana Kurup, professor of the School of Industrial Fisheries of Cochin University of Science and Technology, the reclamation of backwaters and water bodies for housing and urbanisation should be restricted, as water bodies have a vital role in maintaining the environmental balance.

The value of environment and ecological contribution of water bodies and estuaries are priceless.

As these water bodies are serving generation after generation, they should be left untouched, he suggested.

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