Diversity and utilization of freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium) in river Cauvery in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

River Cauvery, one of the perennial rivers of southern India, originates in Talakaveri, Brahmagiri Hills (12°25'N & 75°34'E) of the Western Ghats, in Coorg District of Karnataka and flows eastwards through Tamil Nadu into Bay of Bengal Sea. It runs a distance of 1171km with many contributories and tributaries. The major reservoir of river Cauvery in Tamil Nadu is Mettur Dam, where from water is usually released for irrigation from July to January. Due to minimum water flow from March to June the river bed between the river Anicut to the tail end zone gradually dries up leading to mass mortality of Macrobrachium species (Mariappan & Balasundaram, 1999).In this study, the freshwater prawn distribution in river Cauvery was studied from Mettur, Jedarpalayam, Grand Anicut and Lower Anicut, and Muthupettai in river Koraiyaru, a tributary of Cauvery. Among these, Lower Anicut is the main collection center for juveniles of Macrobrachium malcolmsonii, where the Tamil Nadu State Fisheries Department has the sole authority for the collection and sale of prawn seeds during monsoon. Farmers from the entire state come here to purchase juveniles for prawn farming from October to January.

Studies on the morphometry of Macrobrachium nobilii (Decapoda, Palaemonidae)

“…With this view, the study was conducted to find out length-weight relationship, growth pattern of chelipeds and segments of an endemic freshwater prawn Macrobrachium nobilii (Henderson and Matthai, 1910). Despite its small size, the culture of M. nobilii is encouraged due to its commercial and nutritional value (Mariappan et al, 2002; …”

The conservation status of decapod crustaceans in the Western Ghats of India: an exceptional region of freshwater biodiversity

“…Mariappan et al . () identified the major threat to populations of decapod crustaceans in the River Cauvery as the indiscriminate fishing of female crustaceans, especially during the breeding season. Palaemonid shrimps incubate their eggs attached to the female's abdominal pleopods.…”

“…The greatest threat to wild populations of M. rosenbergii in Vembanad Lake is the exploitation of berried females during the peak breeding season which make up 40-60% of the total catch (Jayachandran, 2010). Mariappan et al (2002) identified the major threat to populations of decapod crustaceans in the River Cauvery as the indiscriminate fishing of female crustaceans, especially during the breeding season. Palaemonid shrimps incubate their eggs attached to the female's abdominal pleopods.…”

“…Palaemonid shrimps incubate their eggs attached to the female's abdominal pleopods. Species such as M. malcolmsonii bear between 3500 and 64 000 eggs, which are all destroyed when gravid females are caught (Mariappan et al, 2002). Therefore, to maintain the present wild population, collection of egg-bearing females during the breeding season should either be banned entirely or strictly controlled (Mariappan et al, 2002).…”

Geometric morphometrics of carapace ofMacrobrachium australe(Crustacea: Palaemonidae) from Reunion Island

“…Freshwater prawns of the genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 (Crustacea: Palaemonidae) are a highly diverse group of decapod crustaceans (with 239 species distributed in tropical regions across the world (De Grave et al 2009)) and are often considered as good aquaculture species (New and Singholka 1985;Mariappan et al 2002Mariappan et al , 2003Mariappan and Balasundaram 2004). In particular, Macrobrachium australe Guérin-Méneville 1838, also known as 'chevrette', is a widespread species in the Indo-West Pacific region.…”