Marine molluscan fauna found at Digha coast, West Bengal, India

Abstract

The present study shows the short coastal line (158.2 km) of West Bengal offers a wide variety of biotic components which are used by the locals for their sustenance. Shell fish collection is an old occupation in this region. Due to the increasing demand of fin fishes and shell fishes, these are caught abundantly without considering their sizes and ages. The fin fishes and shell fishes are not only caught from their feeding ground but also caught from their breeding ground. For this reason the fin fishes and shell fishes are being disturbed in their natural breeding ground. The shellfish resources of the coastal water in the Digha coast are not heavily exploited. Cumulative effect of pollution and other natural factors are also responsible for reduction of shellfish availability in this zone.