Large-scale exploitation of sacred chank Xancus pyrum using modified trawl net along Rameswaram Coast, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The sacred chank, Xancus pynim is a gregarious, large gastropod and its habitat forms distinct chank bed. Homell as early as 1922 described the chank beds in depths of 10 to 20 metres in the Gulf of Mannar and are considered as the most important ones in the country although there are other chank beds along the Gulf of Kutch and the southwest coast of India.