Why in the news?

• Researchers plan to study the mechanism behind a rare and unique cooperation between fishermen and wild dolphins seen in the Ashtamudi Lake of Kerala.

Ashtamudi Lake

• Location: Kollam district of Kerala.
• Geographical Features:
  • A brackish water lake and estuary.
  • Acts as a gateway to Kerala’s backwaters.
  • Drains into the Arabian Sea.
• Ecological Importance:
  • Declared a Ramsar Site- Wetland of International Importance.
  • Plays a critical role in nutrient cycling, flood regulation, and coastal ecosystem stability.
  • Habitat for:
    • Mangroves & estuarine vegetation.
    • Finfish and shellfish, including the famous Ashtamudi short-neck clam.
    • Several endemic and migratory fish species.
• Economic Importance:
  • One of India’s most productive clam fisheries: The Ashtamudi short-neck clam fishery earned MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certification in 2014, India’s first sustainable fishery certification.
  • Important inland navigation and tourism route.
  • Tourism: Houseboats and Backwater Cruises.
• Environmental Threats:
  • Pollution from sewage, industries, tourism, houseboats and Mangrove loss due to encroachment and unregulated development.
  • Sand mining and clay mining.
  • Overfishing and Invasive species affecting native biodiversity.