Recently, the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has successfully achieved captive breeding of the mangrove clam (Geloina erosa).
About Mangrove clam:
Mangrove clams, commonly known as mud clams, locally called 'Kandal Kakka' in northern Kerala.
It belongs to the genus Polymesoda or Geloina.
Habitat: They are found in muddy, brackish and even nearly freshwater regions within mangrove swamps.
Distribution: These are widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region.
Characteristics of Mangrove clam:
It is a burrowing bivalve inhabiting organic-rich muddy substrates in intertidal mangrove ecosystems.
This species display remarkable tolerance, enabling them to thrive across a broad spectrum of salinity levels.
It is a filter-feeding species, primarily active during low-tide immersion stages characterized by frequent inundation.
It plays a crucial ecological role by recycling nutrients, stabilising sediments and strengthening mangrove ecosystems.
Threats: In India, particularly along the east coast and in island regions, wild stocks have been steadily declining due to indiscriminate harvesting, habitat degradation, pollution and coastal development.
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