FISH AND SHELL FISH FAUNA OF THE RETTING AND NONRETT1NG ZONES OF THE KADINAMKULAM KAYAL, KERALA
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Authors
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S. BUOY NANDAN
Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala, Trivandrum - 695 007
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P.K. ABDUL AZIS
Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, University of Kerala, Trivandrum - 695 007
Abstract
Retting of coconut husk is one of the major problems of pollution hi the estuaries (kayals)
of Kerala. Retting activity has resulted in the mass destruction of the flora and fauna and has
converted sizeable sections of the kayal into virtual cesspools of foul smelling stagnant waters.
Levels of hydrogen sulphide, phosphate and BOD, increased while dissi lived oxygen and fish
and shellfish fauna decreased in the ambient waters. In the Kadinamkulam kayal a total of 37
species of fishes belonging to 26 families, 5 species of prawn and 2 species each of crabs and
molluscs were recorded from the nonretting zone, whereas only 20 species of fish in dead
condition were collected from the rating zone. Prawns, crabs and molluscs were absent at the
vetting zone. IVIajority of the fish fauna in the kayal were marine forms.
