Clam collectors a worried lot

Fisheries Department pushes annual ban on harvest to January

With the stock hitting an all-time low, clam collectors of Ashtamudi were a worried lot in 2019. The year 2020 offered no solace, but by then they could identify some visible changes in the estuarine ecosystem.

And today, their worst fears have come true as the fluctuations in hydrographic parameters have affected the spawning season of yellow clams (Paphia malabarica). Normally, the annual three-month ban on harvest begins in December, but inconsistent salinity and surface temperature has forced the Fisheries Department to push it to January.