Why worm poaching is threatening India's wetlands
1 week, 6 days ago

Why worm poaching is threatening India's wetlands

BBC  

Why worm poaching is threatening India's wetlands 11 hours ago Share Save Kamala Thiagarajan Share Save Getty Images India's bristle worms are often overlooked. "Pulicat Lake is what is known as an 'ecotone' – a transition zone between two ecosystems, in this case, land and water," says soil biologist and ecologist Sultan Ahmed Ismail, one of the pioneers of worm research in India. "These poachers aren't just stealing worms, they're destroying an entire ecosystem by breaking the food chain, a vital link that keeps it together," says Ismail. Getty Images Polychaete worms support the ecosystem of Pulicat Lake, which in turn supports local livelihoods "Worm poaching has been happening for years, and it's particularly affecting the livelihoods of 2,000 tribal women who depend on hand fishing for a living in these parts," says S Meerasa, founder and director of the non-governmental organisation the Mangrove Foundation of India. "The poachers steal the worms in broad daylight, and they usually start digging from 6:00," says Lakshmi, 60, who hauls fish with Jyothi and also goes by one name.

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History of this topic

Ecological disaster brewing inside Pulicat bird sanctuary
11 months ago

Ecological disaster brewing inside Pulicat bird sanctuary

New Indian Express  

CHENNAI: Jaya, a traditional fisherwoman who earns her living picking prawns from the Pulicat lake, says the quality and quantum of shrimp availability is drastically declining. “Earlier, if I spent two hours in the water, I used to catch prawns worth Rs 200 to Rs 300, but now I am spending four hours to earn Rs 150 per day,” Jaya …

Industrialisation threat looms over Pulicat’s biodiversity
11 years ago

Industrialisation threat looms over Pulicat’s biodiversity

The Hindu  

Because of its brackish water, the Pulicat lake has proved to be an ideal habitat for diverse and wide-ranging life forms. Local people and environmental activists point out that there is a greater need now to protect the rich bio-diversity in the Pulicat considering the fact that it is facing a number of problems because of the proposed industrialization in …

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