Molluscan resources

A critical review of literature on the fauna of Lakshadweep reveals that there is only scanty reports on the occurrence of molluscs from various islands (Smith, 1906; Appukuttan 1973; Nair and Dharmaraj, 1983 and George ef a/., 19S6). A survey on the fisheries potential of Lakshadweep was undertaken by the scieniists of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute to provide adequate informations on the molluscan fisheries potential of the islands for future planning and development. The present status of fishery of potentially important molluscs, fishing methods, occurrence and abundance are dealt with in the present account. The island surveyed for molluscan resources are Minicoy, Suheh pear, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Androth, Agathi, Bangaram, Amini, Kadamat, Kiltan, Bitra and Chetlat. To understand the distribution pattern, population density and habitat, transect method of sampling was adopted uniformly in ail the 'slands. The sampling areas were broadly classified intointertidal area, lagoon, reef cres^ in the lagoon side and leward side and reef slopes of both sides. Quadrat method of sampling for few bivalves and gastropods were done for quantitative estimates. By diving and hand-picking, samples were collected from various stations and relative abundance were noted by visual estimates. The maps of islands shows the distribution of commercially importtant molluscs