Rakesh Kumar Gupta
Freshwater is the only source of aquatic fauna in state of jammu and Kashmir. People in this state mostly rely on fishes as a source of food values. Fish being the important source of protein is highly palatable and easily digestable. However besides fishes , freshwater crabs consititute an important component of food web. Since they are consumed not only by fishes but also by human being so they play an important role in transferring the energy not only within an aquatic ecosystem but also to the terrestrial environment.
In J&K state freshwater crabs inhabit Jammu region of state because of its poikilothermic nature that restrict its distribution in Kashmir region where season is cold enough throughout year for their survival. Freshwater consititute an important source of food value because of their rich source of protein, mineral and essential amino acids. These crabs are quite vulnerable to environmental conditions such as physico-chemical parameters. People who live near the stream inhabiting water body are quite aware about their importance and use them as not only diet but as medicinal purpose also.
In one of the streams i.e. Gho-manahasan stream due to increase in pollution in water body by the local residing people and of their over exploitation by the local people their number have shown remarkable decrease. Fishermen because of their selfish motive oftenly poisoning the stream which led to the mass mortalitiy of the aquatic fauna including fishes and crabs too. Freshwater crabs are more vulnerable to aquatic pollution also act as biological indicators. Besides Gho-manhasan stream in Tatidiyal due to frequent poisoning their number is reduced enough. The lower reaches of Ban Ganga which receive enough waste material from Ghulshan langer as well as from upper reaches the number of crabs found to exhibit remarkable decrease.
Most of the people are still unaware about their economic importance as well as their food values. Because of their ignorance it still remain an untouch source of food that can substitute fishes. An initative has been taken regarding their ecobiological studies and food value as well as others aspects of crabs by the Jammu university. Much has been done and need a special care for their proper management and utilisation. It can open several job opportunity for the people of state by aquaculture of these crabs. The studies carried out by reserchers will set a venture for their aquaculture point of view as well as conservation and management.
(The author is research schoolar Department of Zoology University of Jammu )
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