Exploitation of sand crabs (Emerita asiatica and Alubunea symnista)as a source of income during the post - tsunami period along the Chennai coast, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The sand crabs, Emerita ayiatica and Albunea symizista belonging to the family Hippidae are abundant in the inter-tidal sandy beaches of Olcot Kuppam (Besant Nagar), Ernerita asintica Thiruvanmiyur Kuppam, Neliankari, Paanaiyur Kuppam, Kanathur Kuppam, Kovalam Kuppam, Marnrnallapuram and Kalpakkam in Tamilnadu, India. E.asiatica is called as "Elli Poochi" or "Nai Eluppa Poochi" in Tamil. Prior to tsunami (December 261h 2004) the fisherwomen used to collect them by hand picking during the low tide period after locating the animals by inserting their feet in the loose sand of the inter-tidal region and were sold at a very low price, since the sand crabs are very small containing very little flesh.