Fishery Management Plan for Ashtamudi Lake Clam Resourcesഅഷ്ടമുടിക്കായലിലെ കക്ക സമ്പത്ത് ഒരു പരിപാലന പദ്ധതി

Th e Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has been studying the exploitation and biology of the key clam resource in the Ashtamudi Lake ecosystem from the late nineteen seventies. As a result of such concerted studies, an intervention for the scientifi c management of the clam resources could be made in the nineteen eighties, and ever since then, a sustained fi shery for the short-neck clam is being practiced by the fi shers. Realizing that the short-neck clam fi sheries is one of the few scientifi cally managed fi sheries in India, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF, India) initiated steps to get the fi sheries certifi ed or ecolabelled as per the criteria of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Th is survey report and fi sheries management plan is a direct result of the WWF’s positive steps and the WWF has provided logistic support for the survey conducted by the CMFRI. We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Mr. Vinod Malayilethu, Senior Coordinator, Marine Conservation Programme, WWF, India for all support and help. We are also thankful to the Director, CMFRI for facilities, constructive criticism and encouragement to bring out this work as a special publication of the institute.