Kochi (Kerala) | The ICAR-CMFRI has successfully achieved induced breeding of the mangrove clam (Geloina erosa) under captive conditions.
This is expected to make a significant scientific milestone for community managed estuarine aquaculture of this threatened resource by integrating with mangrove conservation, a Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) statement said on Monday.
Mangrove clams, also known as mud clams, are a vital yet dwindling resource in estuarine and mangrove ecosystems across South and Southeast Asia, it said.
Despite their dwindling availability, mangrove clams remain a valued local delicacy in many parts of the country, especially in Northern Kerala.
Called as 'Kandal Kakka' in local parlance, the species inhabits organic-rich muddy substrates in intertidal mangrove zones, it said.
Scientists of the Mariculture Division of the institute successfully induced spawning of mangrove clams and completed full embryonic and larval development under controlled conditions, recording successful spat settlement from the 18th day after spawning.
The breakthrough marks one of the very few documented instances globally of induced breeding, larval rearing and spat production of the mangrove clam, it said.
The scientists are now working to standardise larval rearing and nursery management protocols to enhance survival rates and enable large-scale seed production.
CMFRI scientists are of the view that the development of hatchery technology and grow-out farming in suitable estuarine systems could pave the way for low-input farming.
According to them, the stock of this resource can be sustainably enhanced through ranching of hatchery-produced seeds in critical mangrove ecosystems, thereby supporting the clam restoration and mangrove conservation.
This achievement is expected to open new avenues for sustainable livelihoods and nutritional security of mangrove-dependent communities, particularly in coastal regions of Kerala.
Farming activities using hatchery produced seeds will help restore depleted natural stocks, reduce pressure on wild populations and strengthen livelihood opportunities for coastal communities, the statement said.
In India, particularly along the east coast and in island regions, wild stocks have been steadily declining due to indiscriminate harvesting, habitat degradation, pollution and coastal development.
The absence of scientific stock assessments, size limits and seasonal fishing restrictions has further aggravated the depletion, with noticeable reductions in both abundance and shell size, it said.
One of the largest mud clams in the world, reaching shell widths of up to 10 cm, it plays a crucial ecological role by recycling nutrients and stabilising sediments, while also supporting the food security and livelihoods of mangrove-dependent communities, the CMFRI statement added.
