Biodiversity chilika lake

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1. Biodiversity of “ Chilika Lake” Jitendra Kumar Ph.D. Dept. of Fisheries Resources and Management College of Fisheries, Mangalore FRM - 601 ASSESSMENT OF AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY [email protected]

2. Bio- Diversity Refers to the numbers , variety and variability of living organisms and ecosystem Includes all terrestrial, marine and other aquatic organisms Covers diversity within species, between species as well as variations among ecosystems. Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. [email protected]

3. Chilika lagoon is situated on the east coast of India between 19 O 54’ North latitude and 85 O 35’ East longitude connecting the Bay of Bengal Extends from Southwest corner of Puri and Khurda districts to the adjoining Ganjam District in the state of Orissa Lake Chilika , Asia’s biggest salt water lake in the eastern coast of India , The Lake itself can be broadly divided into four ecological sectors based on salinity and depth Southern zone Central zone Northern zone Introduction- Chilika Lake [email protected]

4. A pollen analysis study indicates that the oldest sediments in the lake are 13,500 years old . At that time, Chilika was a river mouth or a river delta with fresh water vegetation . With increase in the sea level , after 9,500 years , the area became an estuary with mangrove vegetation . The average water spread area of the lagoon is 1055sq.km . It covers an area of 1165sq.km . in the rainy season and 965 sq.km . during summer. [email protected]

5. At Chilika ( Madhusmita , 2012) 4 types of Crocodiles, 24 types of Mammals, 37 types of Reptiles and amphibians are seen. The total number of fish species is reported to be 158, along with a variety of phytoplankton, algae and aquatic plants . 726 types of flowering plants, five types of grasses and mangroves are also present here. Diversity of Chilika Lake- [email protected]

6. On the basis of habitat- 150 are marine, 24 are fresh water and 119 are brackish water species . Commonly found fishes are Milk fish ( Chanos chanos ), Sparidae ( Calamus bajonda ), Ompok ( Ompok bimaculatus ), Wallago attu , Bhekti ( Lates calsifer ) etc .. [email protected]

7. In this lake- 28 types of prawn as well as 38 types of crab are available . There are 212 sites for catching fish . 5-7 lakhs of migratory birds visit the lagoon annually . The lagoon hosts over 205 species (2004 census) during peak migratory season [email protected]

8. As per the Chilika Development Authority’s (CDA) updated data (2002 )- 323 aquatic species, which includes 261 fish species , 28  prawns  and 34   crabs  are reported out of which sixty five species breed in the lake. 27 species are freshwater fishes and two genera of prawns. The remaining species migrate to the sea to breed . 21 species of  herrings  and sardines of the family  Clupeidae  are reported. [email protected]

9. It is one of the biodiversity hot spots of the country Some rare, vulnerable and endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened animals inhabit the Lake area for at least a part of their life cycle. Microalgae, marine seaweeds, sea grasses, fishes and crabs also flourish in the brackish water of the Chilika Lagoon The lagoon is a highly productive ecosystem with rich fishery resources [email protected]

10. Physical Characteristics Description Chilika's surface area varies between 906 square km to 1,165 square km. 35 rivers and streams drain into the lake Surface Area 1,100.00 km 2 Depth Mean depth: 1.4 m Maximum depth: 2.4 m Residence Time 1.0 years Origin Shorelines Type Saline, Permanent, Natural Catchment Catchment size: 4,300.00 km 2 Catchment/surface area ratio: 4:1 [email protected]

11. Flora The flora is predominantly of aquatic and sub-aquatic plants Recent surveys revealed an overall 726 species of flowering plants belonging to 496 genera and 120 families Fabaceae is the predominant plant family followed by Poaceae and Cyperaceae Five species of seagrass Mangrove associates, such as Aegiceras corniculatus , Excoecaria agalloch , Salvadora persica , Pongamia pinnata , Colubrina asiatica , Capparis roxburghii , Macrotyloma ciliatum and many others. [email protected]

12. After reopening of the lake mouth in 2000, six threatened species have reappeared, including: Milk fish ( Seba khainga ), Indo-Pacific tarpon ( Panialehio ), Ten pounder ( Nahama ), Bream (Kala khuranti ), Hilsa ( Tenuealosa ) ilisha ( ilishi ) and Mullet R. corsula ( Kekenda ) [email protected]

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15. Commercial fisheries Butter catfish and Wallago attu are the most common type of fish found in the lake 11 species of fish, 5 species of prawn and 2 crab species are commercially important The commercially important prawn are Giant tiger prawn , Penaeus indicus (Indian white shrimp), Metapenaeus monoceros (Speckled shrimp), Metapenaeus affinis (Pink prawn) and Metapenaeus dobson ( Kadal shrimp) [email protected]

16. Mangrove crab ( Heloecious cardiformies ) is the most important commercial crab. Against an all time lowest landing of fish and prawn of 1,269 t (1,399 short tons) in 1995–96, the all time high is reported to be 11,878 t (13,093 short tons) during 2001–2002 Recently, the Government of Orissa have issued a notification banning the lease of Chilika Lake for Culture Fishery. [email protected]

17. Dolphins The Irrawaddy Dolphin ( Orcaella brevirostris ) is the flagship species of Chilika lake Chilka is home to the only known population of Irrawaddy dolphins in India and one of only two lagoons in the world that are home to this species It is classified as Critically Endangered , in five of the six other places it is known to live The number of dolphins sighted has varied from 50 to 170. A 2007 census revealed 138 Dolphins . [email protected]

18. Measures for increasing fish production Regulation of fishery activities as per the provision of Orissa Marine Fisheries Regulation Act (OMFRA). Complete ban on shrimp culture. Routine surveillance by the Task Force. Practicing Responsible Fishery Practices. Legislation on regulation of fishery in Chilika . [email protected]

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