An instance of total drying up of Pillaimadam lagoon during 1986-'87 in South-East coast of India

Abstract

Pillaimadam Lagoon is located in Ramanathapuram District, has been playing a role in the economy of the fishermen living in its neighbourhood, any marked change in its ecology and fisheries is bound to influence the fishermen there, in one way or the other. In view of this, an instance of total drying up of the lagoon observed during 1987 is documented and recorded. The ecology of the lagoon is influenced by two principal climatic condition.. When the rains cease, summer prevails and the barmouth closes, thus cutting off freshwater, salinity reaches as high as 73 to 93 %0. Run off water from the land accumulates in the lagoon, the bar gets opened, the lagoon water becomes brackish and salinity values became low (25-33 %0). Due to the existing single bar mouth and under the climatic conditions prevailing, capture fisheries as well as culture projects can be undertaken in the lagoon only from about October till the following March.