Status of Molluscan Fisheries of India

Molluscs are a fascinating and varied group of animals and although their outside features may vary greatly in form and colour, their internal structure are constant. The invertebrate phylum Mollusca with more than 80,000 species is second only to Arthropoda in number of species. In India, the molluscs contribute to important fisheries, providing nutritious food, and are also foreign exchange earners to the country. The shell has many industrial uses and is the object in making eye-catching articles by deft craftsmen. Men, women and children participate in fishing molluscs, which provide employment and income in coastal rural areas