Illegal trade pushes Vembanad’s black clam fishery deeper into crisis

As black clam reserves in the Vembanad Lake continue to shrink, rampant illegal harvesting and unauthorised transportation have emerged as fresh threats to the fragile ecosystem and the livelihoods of thousands of traditional clam workers.

With illegal operators increasingly targeting both clam meat and shells, the Fisheries Department has stepped up enforcement, launching a crackdown on unauthorised harvesting and transport by non-licensed persons.

Just the other day, Fisheries Department officials intercepted a vehicle carrying around 20 tonnes of clams at Kulasekharamangalam. The consignment, transported from TV Puram near Vaikom without the mandatory permits, was seized and a fine of ₹40,000 was imposed under the Inland Fisheries Act.

Under existing rules, a permit issued by the Fisheries Department is mandatory for transporting more than 200 kg of clams, clam shells or clam meat by road or water. Officials said similar action had been taken in previous years against those attempting to transport clams without valid documents.

“Only the Lime Shell Cooperative Societies are authorised to store and transport clam shells. Transporting shells without valid transit passes or licences issued by the Fisheries Department is illegal and will invite strict action,” said an official.

Even as the department cracks down on illegal transport, licensed clam workers say the biggest threat lies beneath the waters of the lake. They allege that large scale harvesting of juvenile black clams, locally known as Mallikakka, is steadily eroding future clam stocks and pushing traditional harvesters into financial distress.

The juvenile clams, measuring less than 20 mm, are being harvested indiscriminately from several parts of the Vembanad Lake. While the meat is sold in local markets, the shells are transported mainly to Namakkal in Tamil Nadu for use as poultry feed.

The practice has become particularly alarming because the juvenile clams had been released into the lake by Lime Shell Cooperative Societies using government financial assistance to replenish clam stocks and safeguard the livelihoods of workers. Instead, illegal operators are scooping up these young clams before they mature.

According to traditional clam collectors, most of the illegal harvesting takes place after midnight, making enforcement difficult. As mature clam deposits continue to decline, many licensed workers are now forced to travel long distances to harvesting grounds to earn a living.

Taking serious note of the situation, the Fisheries Department has decided to intensify night patrols across the lake and step up inspections to curb illegal harvesting and unauthorised transportation of clams and shells.

Hundreds of families across the Vembanad Lake basin depend directly on the black clam fishery for their livelihood. The lake produces an average of around 32,000 tonnes of black clams annually, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the fishery wealth in its brackish water ecosystem.