Survey of clam and oyster resources of some Karnataka estuaries

Abstract

Of an estimated standing stock of about 6700 tonnes of clams and oysters in the estuaries on the southwest coast of India between Mangalore and Honavar 80% were clams and 20% were oysters. Among clams Meretrix casta was the chief species, followed by Villorita cyprinoides, Paphia malabarica, Meretrix meretrix and Katelysia opiina. The important oyster was Crassostrea madrasensis. Mulky, Udyavara and Coondapur were the more productive estuaries, among which Mulky topped with a production rate of 18 t/ha of clams and oysters.