Ecosystem Services and Fishery Production Dynamics of Wetland Ecosystem: An Appraisal of Alappuzha District of Kerala, India
Ecosystem Services and Fishery Production Dynamics of Wetland Ecosystem: An Appraisal of Alappuzha District of Kerala, India
Date
2016
Authors
Varkey, L.M
Kumar, Pramod
Mridha, Nilimesh
Sekhar, I
Sahoo, R. N
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Society of Fisheries Technologists (India)Cochin
Abstract
Wetlands serve as home to innumerable flora and
fauna and deliver critical ecological and societal
functions which often tend to get ignored during the
developmental process. An assessment of ecosystem
service contribution of wetlands of Alappuzha was
attempted under benefit transfer framework to raise
awareness regarding its invaluable contributions.
The district being home to a network of backwaters
falling under coastal lagoons, coastal natural wetands
dominated the share. Erosion regulation and sediment
retention, food production and recreation were
the major ecosystem functions contributing to total
ecosystem value. An assessment of growth and
variability of inland fisheries, the major provisioning
good of the wetlands, revealed the significance of
Prawn, Etroplus and Tilapia in fish landings. Analysis
of change in the area of Vembanad Lake during
2002-2014 revealed growing anthropogenic pressure,
with a reduction of 465 ha of area. Fisheries of
the lake has been seriously affected by continuing
reclamation, pollution, eutrophication and anthropogenic
interventions which have to be regulated to
stop the decline of wetlands of the district
Description
Keywords
Wetlands, inland fish landing, ecosystem services, Kuttanad
Citation
Fishery Techn 53(2):162 - 169