Larvae fishing proving a threat to prawns

The flourishing practice of collection of wild prawn larvae in the backwaters is posing a major threat for tiger prawn species, leading to dwindling of their numbers.

Number of families from Gilakaladindi and its surrounding villages in Krishna district are engaged in collection of the larvae from the backwaters and water channels in the mangrove forest.

“We are blessed with rich mangrove and backwaters, where wild tiger prawn larvae are seen in great quantity. There is a great demand for the larvae from hatcheries and aqua farmers,” wild larvae collectors told

The Hindu . According to Anji, a traditional fish seed collector, collection of seed of different species was a prime source of income for the locals.

Seeking anonymity, many larvae collectors agreed that the tiger prawn seed was fetching them remunerative price from aqua farmers and hatcheries which are in operational in Krishna and Godavari districts.

Carrying pull net in hands, venturing into mangrove forest and backwaters, adjacent to the Bay of Bengal, is a regular chore of the life for the locals.

Krishna University Biotechnology Department head P.V. Brahmachari said that the existing practice by the local fishermen would cause severe damage to the population of the tiger prawn.

“Fishing of larvae should not be encouraged. The practice must be stopped, given the number of seed being collected a day on the Machilipatnam coast as it is a threat for other species which are trapped in the nets,” opined Mr. Brahmachari. The demand for tiger prawn larvae is significant in Krishna and West Godavari districts as it thrives both in the sweet and brackish water.

Ban in Bangadesh

In 2000, the Bangladesh government has imposed a ban on fishing of the wild prawn larvae to prevent the adverse impact on biodiversity from level of by-cacth apart from conservation of prawn seed.

‘Fishing of larvae should not be encouraged. The practice must be stopped’