Icthyofaunal Diversity of Kavvayi Backwaters, Malabar Coast of India: A Preliminary Study

Fish faunal diversity studies are of great importance for the effective utilization of valuable natural resources and to plan different conservation strategies. Studies on the diversity and richness of fish in Kavvayi backwaters are very rare. Hence, this study is aimed at exploring the fish resources, diversity and species richness of the fish fauna of Kavvayi backwaters of the Kerala coast, which has received very little attention hitherto. Monthly sample collections were made from four stations regularly for a period of one year, and the collection was done by netting with cast net and gill net. A total of 65 species under 51 genera, comprising 36 families belonging to 17 orders of fin fish fauna, were recorded from the Kavvayi backwater. Further studies are required to identify other fish species also and to ascertain the reasons for variations in fish faunal diversity in the Kavvayi backwater ecosystem.