Management approach for clam resources development in India

Abstract

Clam resource, both live and subsoil deposits, are categorized under minor minerals and as such the licensing and general policy decisions are being formulated by the Department of Mining and Geology of the respective states. Even though in the states like Kera'a, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh the meat is consumed, major portion of the live clams are collected for utilising the shell for lime and related industries involving a high wastage of meat. There are co-operative societies functioning in certain parts of the country making the harvest and sale on a co-operative basis. Similarly large scale collection and destruction of seed clams are also observed in some of the areas and if properly conserved the production can be enhanced considerably. The developmental programme in this sector is to be taken up at the state and national levels. The paper deals with these topics in detail and suggests management programmes.