Record fish production from Odisha’s Chilika Lake

By IANS,

Bhubaneswar : Fish production from Odisha’s massive Chilika Lake touched an all-time high of 14,228 tonnes in 2011-2012, an official said Sunday.


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Hydrological intervention for restoration of the lake with the opening of a new mouth in 2000 had resulted in significant recovery of the lake fishery, Ajit Patnaik, chief executive of Chilika Development Authority, told IANS.

The average fish landings between 2001-02 and 2009-10 has been 11,676 tonnes.

Chilika, spread across the districts of Puri, Khurdha and Ganjam along the east coast, is the largest brackish water lake in Asia covering an area of over 1,100 sq km.

Located about 100 km from here, the lake’s fishery supports the livelihood of more than two lakh fisherfolk living in and around the lake.

According to an assessment carried out recently, the species diversity in the lake stands at 317 fish, 28 prawns and shrimps, 35 brachyuran crabs and two spiny lobsters.

Past study has revealed that the fish species found in the lake are free from any toxicity. The fish fauna of the lake is characterised by the composite of freshwater, brackish and marine elements.

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