Fish and shell fish fauna of the retting and nonretting zones of the Kadinamkulam kayal,

Item Type article

Authors Bijoy Nandan, S.; Abdul Azis, P.K.

Download date 02/10/2021 13:10:23

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/32164 Journal of the Indian Fisheries Associank at. 35 23, 1993, 35-43 FISH AND SHELL FISH FAUNA OF THE RETTING AND NONRETT1NG ZONES OF THE KADINAMKULAM KAYAL, KERALA

S. BUOY NANDAN* AND P.K. ABDUL AZIS Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries, , Trivandrum - 695 007

AI$STRACT

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.

INTRODUCTION MATERIAL AND METHODS The rating of coconut husk has led to Two stations were selected in the extensive pollution of the clean and highly Kadinamkulam. kayal (lat.8°35'-8°40'N and productive estuaries of Kerala, The process of long. 76°45'-76°52'E), the largest among the retting involves the immersion of raw coconut estuaries in Thiruvammthapuram district, Kerala, husks in shallow waters for a period of 6-10 (Fig.1). Station 1 (Kotrakiri) represented inontlasresulting in the microbial decomposition a polluted zone, which is an interior bay of the of the husks. Retting is brought about by the kayal used entirely for the rotting of coconut pectinolytic activity of microorganisms like husk. Station TI (Peruinathura) is an area free bacteria, fungi and yeast releasing large amounts from rotting activity and is exposed to fresh of organic matter like pectin, ployphenol, tannin water influx and estuarine in nature. The etc. into the medium. The mat or bacterial groups empties into the estuary at associated with retting are Aerobacter, its northern extensity at Perurnathura. 13seuclomonas, Bacillus, Paracolobactruin, Escherichia and Micrococcus (Ghat and The study was conducted from October Nambudiri, 1971). Fungi like Rhodowrulaflava 1987 to September 1988. Surface and bottom and Saccromyces fructum were also reported water from both stations were collected at (Bliat and Nainbudiri, 1971) from the vetting fortnightly interval for estimation of temperature, zones. salinity, dissolved oxygen, hydrogen sulphide, BOD5, nitrate and ammonia following standard A proper knowledge of the available fish procedures (Strickland and Parsons, 1972). Fish fauna in the coastal ecosystems is a pre-requisite and shell fish were collected at random from the for the successful fishery development, culture local fishermen for one year, Amongst the cast practice and conservation. Preliminary survey nets and seine nets used commonly, the latter of the fish fauna was carried out at the accounts for the major share of the catch. Kayamkulam lake by John (1958); &lava- Identifications were carried out following Day Nadayara estuary (Abdul Azis and Nair, 1978) ( 1 878), Munro (1967), Whitehead (1972) and and Aslitamudi estuary (Nair and Abdul Azis, Ihingraii (1975). 1987). This is the first report on the effect of rotting of coconut husk on the fish and shell fish fauna of the Kadinamkulam kayal. Present At.:clress : Central InlAnd Fisherie Research Centre (ICAR), Alappuzha-688 001, Kerala 36 NANDAN AND AZIS

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ANCNUMENGU- AKA THUMURI KAYAL

51.1 EDANAPIOOLA 51.1 PERumAINURA

1ff WING ZONES ALONG lit KAUNAmKULAM KAYAL

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Fig. 1 Location of Stations FISH AND SHELL FISH FAUNA OF KADINAMKULAM KAYAL 37

SULTS AND DISCUSSION species), (Munro, 1955). Megalops cyprinoides and Gerreomoipha setifer were the true estuarine Water quality : forms occurring in the kayal. It is thus apparent The temperature of the surface and bottom that nearly 50% of the fish fauna in the water at the retting zone (St.I) varied from 26 to Kadinamkulam kayal are marine forms which 34°C whereas that at the nonretting zones migrate into the kayal when hydrobiological (St.II) varied from 25 to 32.5 °C. The salinity conditions are favourable as observed in other values in the surface and bottom water ranged kayals of India (Jhingran and Gopalakrishnan, from 2.55 to 30.19%0 at the retting zone and that 1973). from 8.15 to 31.70%0 at the nonretting zone. Depletion of dissolved oxygen leading to anoxic Of the 5 species of prawns recorded trom condition coupled with the production of large the nonretting zones, Penaeus indicus showed amount of hydrogen sulphide was the the highest numerical density followed by characteristic feature of the retting zone. The Metapenaeus dobsoni. Scylla serrata showed dissolved oxygen concentration ranged from higher abundance when compared to Neptumus zero to 0.72 mg/1 at the retting zone whereas that pelagicus. Among the shellfish fauna, the bivalve at the nonretting zone ranged from 2.28 to 6.21 Villorita cyprinoides showed the highest mg/1 in the surface and bottom waters (Fig.2). numerical density. (Table II) The hydrogen 7.6 to 40.2 mg/1 and that at the nonretting zones ranged from zero to 3 mg/1, in Salinity and temperature were the most the surface and bottom waters (Fig .3). Very high significant factors which determined the BOD5 values ranging from 4.96 to 24.39 mg/1 distribution of fishes in the Kadinamkulam kayal in the surface and bottom waters were another also as found in other estuaries (De Silva and notable aspect of the water quality in the retting Silva, 1979). Since this kayal is not permanently zone and that it ranged from 0 to 3.74 mg/1 at the connected to the sea, condition of the barmouth nonretting zones (Fig .4). Generally the nitrate has a significant role in the recruitment of content was found to be lower whereas the marine species. nitrite and ammonia contents were higher in the retting zone. The NO 3-N values at St.' varied Retting activities at station I led to an from') 0 to 2.48 pg at /1 and that at St.II from 0 anoxic condition concomittant with the to 4 tg at/1. The nitrite and ammonia production of large quantities of hydrogen concentrations ranged from 0 to 1.78µg at/1 and sulphide and ammonia which in turn had a fatal 6.40 to 37.70 fig at/1 respectively at the retting effect on all the 20 species of fish fauna collected zone and from 0 to 1.66 pg at/1 and 0 to 11.70 from the retting zone during the present study. tg at/1 at the nonretting zone. Of the 36 species of fishes recorded from Fauna : the nonretting zone, 28 were economically A total of 37 species of fishes belonging to important (Thingran, 1975) and most of the 26 families, 5 species of prawns, 2 species of marine species were occasional visitors. crabs and 2 species of molluscs were collected Mugilids, tachysurids, cichlids and centropomids from the nonretting zone. (Table I) There was were the most common groups contributing considerable reduction in the fauna at the retting substantially to the fisheries. Among the mullets zone and only 20 species of fish in dead condition recorded, Liza parsia and L. macrolepis and were collected. Of the 37 species of fishes from cichlids, Etroplus surratensis and E. recorded from the nonretting zone, 13 were maculatus were most common and caught round typically marine while others are transient forms the year. Earlier studies conducted by Nair et al. inhabiting different habitats viz., marine, (1983) from the Kadinamkulam kayal recorded estuarine (11 species), Estuarine/riverine (4 67 species of fishes belonging to 34 families. A species) and marine/estuarine/riverine (4 sharp depletion of fauna was observed from the ▪

38 NANDAN AND AZIS

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Fig. 4 Fortnightly variation of BOD, in the Kadinainlailain estuary . FISH AND SHELL FISH FAUNA OF KAD1NAMKULAM KAYAL 41 Table 1. List offishes of the retting and nonretting zones in the Kadinamkulam kayal Family Species Local Name Habitat No. Collected (Munro 1967) Non-retting retting 1 2 3 4 5 6 Megalopidae Iviegalops eyprinoides Nunna Chankanni 10 6 Clupeidae Sardinella sp. Chaala 7 2 Engraulidae Stolephorus indicus Netholi M 9 7 Chanidae Chanos chanos* Poomeen M 15 2 Tachysuridae Tachysurus maelf idtlIS *41 Koori Thedu E 3 1 Heiniramp4idae Hyporhamphus limbatus Koralan M, E 9 Hemiramphus cantori M, E 12 4 Rynehoramphus georgi 7 2 Sphyraenidae Sphyraena jells * Cheelavu M 16 7 Mugilidae cephalus * Kanambu 22 Liza macrolepis M, E 1. 2 L. parsia M, E 17 8 Valaniugil scheli * M 7 Atherinidae Pranesus doudecimalis * Kayal netholi M, E 12 Centropomidae Chanda commersonii ** Nulli Nandal E, R 1. 6 Serranidae Epinephelus tauvina Azhutha M 9 Theraponidae Therapon jarbua * Keeli M,E 13 4 Sillaginidae SA -Igo sihama * Ocl i M, E 13 Carangidae Carom sexfasiatus * Paara M 10 Lutjanidae Lutfanus,ffilvillamma * Chemballi M, E, 9 Gerridae Pertica filamentosa * Praachi M 8 Genres ovena * M 7 2 Gerreonumpha .setifer * E 3 1 Leiognathidae Leiognathus equulus Kaaral M, E, R 8 L. splendens * M 1 Mullidae tipeneta sulphureus Navara S catoph a gi dae Scatophagus an Marappi M,E 3 Cichlidae Tilapia mossambiea Tilapi 16 Etroplus suratensis Karimeen E, R 21 10 E. maculatus. ** Pallathi E,R 20 4 Eleotridae Eleo iris jUsea * Karimpoonthi E,R 12 Gobiidae Glossogobius giuris * Poonthi M, E, R 6 2 P.seudogobiu.s javanicus M, E 8 Platycephalidae ThysanOpThys indieus *- Oratha 8 Soleidae Brachirus orientalis M 8 Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus lida M 1 1 Tetrodontidae' Chelondon patoca Oothaampetti M, E 2 * - Commercially important species (Jhingran, 1975) - Species substantially contributing to fisheries M - Marine, E - Estuarine, R Riverine. 42 NANDAN AND AZIS

Table 2. Shell fish fauna of the retting (SU) and nonretting (St.I1) zones in the Kadinamkulam kayal Species St.I St.II Local name No. Collected (nonretting zone)

Penaeus indices Naran 17 Penaeus monodon Kara 9 Metapenaeus dobsoni Poovalan or Thelly 8 Metapenaeus monoceros Choodan 12 Macrobrachium idilla Koona 10 Scylla serrata 16

Neptunus pelagicus. -12 Villorita cyprinoides 69 Crassostrea madrasensis 14

- Absent, + Present

present study in the kayal, due to the large scale establishment of retting yards in the kayals, the retting activity. once continuous stock of biota should have been separated by the pollution block created. Retting activity in the Kadinamkulam kayal Hydrogen sulphide is very toxic to fishes. had a serious effect on the fauna particularly According to Metelev et al., (1983) when the during the premonsoon period when the fishes are exposed to hydorgen sulphide (1 mg/ temperature was relatively high with practically 1) the rate of respiration dropped, respiratory no rainfall and river discharge. High temperature movements became arhythmic and depth of accelerates the process of disintegration of breathing became highly variable. The sulphides coconut husk producing hydrogen sulphide impede cellular respiration by suppressing the causing depletion of oxygen in the aquatic capacity of the tissues to utilise oxygen. The environment. However, a recovery period was fishes- in the retting zone of the present study observed during the monsoon due to flushing by were exposed to very high concentrations of rain water, river discharge and land washings. hydrogen sulphide (7.60-40.20 mg/1). The Depletion of fish catch in the retting area could poisoned fish at the retting zone of the be attributed to the fact that fishes avoid the Kadinamkulam kayal exhibited sluggish oxygen depleted area loaded with suspended movement'and paralysis was observed with the particles, such as fibres and pith which have body covered with an opalescent mucus, detrimental effect on the penetration of sunlight and distribution of fishes. The gills of fish and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS shell fishes get clogged by the pith and their movements are adversely affected by the fibre The first author is thankful to the University particles suspended in water. Reduction in of Kerala for the award of a Junior Research swimming endurance has a discouraging effect Fellowship and the second author to the Kerala on the normal activities of the fish thereby State Committee on Science, Technology and reducing the chances of survival in the polluted Environment, Government of Kerala, for their waters. Under such conditions the fishes would financial support under the S.R.F. scheme. Both tend to avoid an oxygen deficient zone. Hynes authors are indebted to the Head, Department of (1966) have also reported such a repellent Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of reaction of fishes due to low oxygen Kerala, for the facilities provided. concentrations. Commensurate with the FISH AND SHELL FISH FAUNA OF KADINAMKULAM KAYAL 43

REFERENCES

Abdul Azis, P. K. and Nair, N. B. 1978. The Metelev, V.V., Kenav, A.I. and Ozasakhova, nature of pollution in the retting zones N.G. 1983. Water Toxicology, Amerind of the backwaters of Kerala, Aquatic Biol., Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. 3 : 41-62. Bhat, J.V. and Nambudiri, A.M.D. 1971. The Munro, I.S.R. 1967. The Fishes ofNew Cuinea, uniquity of coir retting. ,LS'ci.Indus. Res., Department of Aquaculture, Stock and 30 : 12. Fisheries, Port Moresby, New Guinea: 651pp. Day, F. 1878. The Fishes of India, Bernard Quaritch, London. Nair, N.B. and Abdul Azis, P.K. 1987. Hydrobiology of the Ashtamuch estuary - a De Silva, S.S. and Silva, E.I.L. 1979. Fish tropical backwater system in Kerala. Proc. fauna of a coastal lagoon in Sri Lanka : Natn. Sem. Estuar. Management, 268-280. Distribution and seasonal variation, Bull. Fish. Res. Station Sri Lanka, 29 : 1-9. Nair, N.B., Krishnakumar, K., Rajasekharan Nair, J•, Abdul Azis, P.K., Dharmara,j, Hynes, H.B.N. 1966. The Biology of Polluted K. and Arunachalam, M. 1983. Ecology Waters, .L iverpool University Press : 202 of Indian Estuaries - XII. A preliminary pp. account on the fish fauna of the Kadin amkularn backwater, Mahasagar, Bull Thingran, V.G. 1975. Fish and Fisheries of num. bast. Oceanogr, 16 .(4) : 473,-477. India. Hindustan Publishing Corporation (India), New Delhi, : 954 pp. Strickland, J.D.H. and Parsons, T.R. 1922. A Practical Handbook of Seawater Analysis, Jhingran, V.G. and Gopalakrishnan, V. 1973. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, Bulletin, Second Estuarine fisheries resources of India in ed., 167: 310pp, relation to adjacent seas. J. Mara Biol. Ass. India, 15 323-334. Whitehead, P.J.P. 1972. A Synopsis of the clupeoid fishes of India, J. Mar, Biol. Ass. John, C.M. 1958. Preliminary survey of the India, 14 : 160-256. Kayamkulam lake. Bulletin of Central Research Institute, University of Kerala, Series C, Natural Science, 6 : 97-116.