409
Consequently, on the basis of signs of improvement, Chilika was taken out of the Montreux
Record in 2002.
Awards
(a) In November 2002, the Ramsar Wetland
Conservation Award was presented to the
Chilika Development Authority for ‘outstanding
achievements in the fi eld of restoration and wise
use of wetlands and effective participation of
local communities in these activities’.
(b) Subsequently, also in 2002, the Indira Gandhi
Paryavaran Puraskar (instituted by the Ministry
of Environment and Forests, Government of
India) was awarded to the Chilika Development
Authority for its outstanding contributions in
the conservation and restoration of the Chilika
Lake ecosystem.
Flora and Fauna
Flora
These include the microalgae, marine seaweeds
and sea grasses. Studies on Chilika Lake revealed
726 species of fl owering plants belonging to 496
genera and 120 families. This represents about
one-fourth of the vascular plant species of Odisha
province where approx. 2,900 species are found.
Fabaceae is the most dominant family followed
by Poaceae and Cyperaceae. The principal fl oral
composition is (a) endemic Cassipourea ceylanica ; (b) fi ve species of sea grass; (c) wild plants,
such as insectivorous plants, epiphytes, parasites
and lithophytes, which could be of horticultural
importance; and (d) mangrove associates, such as
Aegiceras corniculatum , Excoecaria agallocha ,
Salvadora persica , Pongamia pinnata , Colubrina
asiatica , Capparis roxburghii and Macrotyloma
ciliatum . However, some of the AM are Scirpus,
Eleocharis, Cyperus, Potamogeton (78 %),
Najas, etc. Some of the phytoplankton are
Asterionella sp., Chaetomorpha sp., etc.
Fauna
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) (1985–
1988) had identifi ed 800 animal species which
included approx. 160 species of birds, 37 species
of amphibians and reptiles and 24 species of
mammals. These contained many rare, endangered,
threatened and vulnerable species, notably the
green sea turtle (EN), dugong (VU), Irrawaddy
dolphin (VU), blackbuck (NT), spoon- billed
sandpiper (CR), limbless skink and fi shing cat
(EN), etc.
Fishes and Other Aquatic Fauna
CDA (2002) had reported 323 aquatic species,
which included 261 species of fi sh, 28 prawns
and 34 crabs. Out of these, 65 species, probably,
breed in the lake. The remaining species migrate
to the sea to breed. 21 species of herrings and
sardines have also been reported. Some of the
fi shes are Hilsa ( Tenualosa ) , Mugil, Mystus,
Glossogobius, Cyprinus, Polynemus, Eutroplus,
Ctenopharyngodon, etc. Notably, the following
few threatened species re-appeared in the lake
following the re-opening of the lake mouth in
2000, namely , milkfi sh (Seba khainga), IndoPacifi c tarpon (Panialehio), ten pounder
(Nahama), bream (Kala khuranti), Hilsa
( Tenualosa ) ilisha (ilishi) and mullet R. corsula
(Kekenda). Butter catfi sh and Wallago attu are
the most common type of fi sh found in the lake.
Eleven species of fi sh, fi ve species of prawn and
two species of crab are commercially important.
The commercially important prawns are giant
tiger prawn, Penaeus indicus (Indian white
shrimp), Metapenaeus monoceros (speckled
shrimp), Metapenaeus affi nis (pink prawn) and
Metapenaeus dobsoni (kadal shrimp). Mangrove
crab is the most important commercial crab.
Commercial Fisheries
There are about 122 fi shing villages along the
shoreline of the wetland having a total population
of about one lakh. The fi sherfolk in Chilika have
evolved exclusive rights of fi shing in the lake
through a complex system of partitioning the
fi sheries of the lake. They have been harvesting
the lake in a relatively sustainable fashion, and
there has been development of large range of
fi shing techniques and gears. >9,000 fi shing
boats operate in the wetland. Fish landings from
the lake have recorded a remarkable recovery
after the opening of the new mouth and dredging
of the silt-choked old mouth (Magarmukh) in
2000–2001. This, probably, had resulted in a
20.3 Wetlands of Other Regions in India
Consequently, on the basis of signs of improvement, Chilika was taken out of the Montreux
Record in 2002.
Awards
(a) In November 2002, the Ramsar Wetland
Conservation Award was presented to the
Chilika Development Authority for ‘outstanding
achievements in the fi eld of restoration and wise
use of wetlands and effective participation of
local communities in these activities’.
(b) Subsequently, also in 2002, the Indira Gandhi
Paryavaran Puraskar (instituted by the Ministry
of Environment and Forests, Government of
India) was awarded to the Chilika Development
Authority for its outstanding contributions in
the conservation and restoration of the Chilika
Lake ecosystem.
Flora and Fauna
Flora
These include the microalgae, marine seaweeds
and sea grasses. Studies on Chilika Lake revealed
726 species of fl owering plants belonging to 496
genera and 120 families. This represents about
one-fourth of the vascular plant species of Odisha
province where approx. 2,900 species are found.
Fabaceae is the most dominant family followed
by Poaceae and Cyperaceae. The principal fl oral
composition is (a) endemic Cassipourea ceylanica ; (b) fi ve species of sea grass; (c) wild plants,
such as insectivorous plants, epiphytes, parasites
and lithophytes, which could be of horticultural
importance; and (d) mangrove associates, such as
Aegiceras corniculatum , Excoecaria agallocha ,
Salvadora persica , Pongamia pinnata , Colubrina
asiatica , Capparis roxburghii and Macrotyloma
ciliatum . However, some of the AM are Scirpus,
Eleocharis, Cyperus, Potamogeton (78 %),
Najas, etc. Some of the phytoplankton are
Asterionella sp., Chaetomorpha sp., etc.
Fauna
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) (1985–
1988) had identifi ed 800 animal species which
included approx. 160 species of birds, 37 species
of amphibians and reptiles and 24 species of
mammals. These contained many rare, endangered,
threatened and vulnerable species, notably the
green sea turtle (EN), dugong (VU), Irrawaddy
dolphin (VU), blackbuck (NT), spoon- billed
sandpiper (CR), limbless skink and fi shing cat
(EN), etc.
Fishes and Other Aquatic Fauna
CDA (2002) had reported 323 aquatic species,
which included 261 species of fi sh, 28 prawns
and 34 crabs. Out of these, 65 species, probably,
breed in the lake. The remaining species migrate
to the sea to breed. 21 species of herrings and
sardines have also been reported. Some of the
fi shes are Hilsa ( Tenualosa ) , Mugil, Mystus,
Glossogobius, Cyprinus, Polynemus, Eutroplus,
Ctenopharyngodon, etc. Notably, the following
few threatened species re-appeared in the lake
following the re-opening of the lake mouth in
2000, namely , milkfi sh (Seba khainga), IndoPacifi c tarpon (Panialehio), ten pounder
(Nahama), bream (Kala khuranti), Hilsa
( Tenualosa ) ilisha (ilishi) and mullet R. corsula
(Kekenda). Butter catfi sh and Wallago attu are
the most common type of fi sh found in the lake.
Eleven species of fi sh, fi ve species of prawn and
two species of crab are commercially important.
The commercially important prawns are giant
tiger prawn, Penaeus indicus (Indian white
shrimp), Metapenaeus monoceros (speckled
shrimp), Metapenaeus affi nis (pink prawn) and
Metapenaeus dobsoni (kadal shrimp). Mangrove
crab is the most important commercial crab.
Commercial Fisheries
There are about 122 fi shing villages along the
shoreline of the wetland having a total population
of about one lakh. The fi sherfolk in Chilika have
evolved exclusive rights of fi shing in the lake
through a complex system of partitioning the
fi sheries of the lake. They have been harvesting
the lake in a relatively sustainable fashion, and
there has been development of large range of
fi shing techniques and gears. >9,000 fi shing
boats operate in the wetland. Fish landings from
the lake have recorded a remarkable recovery
after the opening of the new mouth and dredging
of the silt-choked old mouth (Magarmukh) in
2000–2001. This, probably, had resulted in a
20.3 Wetlands of Other Regions in India