Abstract:
A large proportion of the coastal population of the Batticaloa
district depends on the Batticaloa lagoon for their daily bread from time
immemorial. This has been made possible due to the high degree of
biological diversity in the lagoon.
In this study an attempt was made the diversity of fauna with
reference to fish and shell fish, diversity of flora in terms of mangroves
and also records the diversity of ecological services provided by Batticaloa
lagoon to humanity. Eleven sampling points were chosen randomly to
collect data from the fish landing centers along the lagoon, regarding the
fish catch, water quality. The fish catch statistics for fin fish and shell fish
were collected for a long period but to compare the impact of Tsunami
upon fisheries the data from 1993 to 1995, 2003-2004 and from 2004
to 2005 are considered in this study. The mean catch per unit effort
from the Batticaloa lagoon was recorded as 2.55 kg, 2.14 kg, 2.9 kg and
1.98 kg per person per day for the period from 2004–2005, 2003–2004,
1993-1994 and 1994- 1995 respectively. Orechromis spp and Etroplus spp
dominated the catches. However, during December to February shrimps
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Water Quality and Fishery Yield in .... 35
especially Penaeus indicus, Penaeus semisulcatus dominated the catch. The
fish catch and its market value showed impacts on the economy and life
style of the fishermen.
The analysis reveals that the lagoon water still retains reasonable
standards of water quality in many areas except in selected pockets
where industries are heavily concentrated. The shocks imposed by the
modern stakeholders through industrial activities are unbearable most
of the time, but the system does not show any serious signs of collapse
due to the free delivery of ecosystem services such as delivery of lagoon
consumable products to human. The water quality of different locations
was also studied where at some places the nitrate, phosphate levels were
higher in Kattankuddy and Thiruperumthurai, where the untreated
municipal garbage, industrial wastes are pumped. The scenario is likely
to be worsening if proper environmental governance is not adopted by
the stakeholders.
