Crustacean Fishery Resources of Coastal West Bengal and their Conservation Issues

Coastal West Bengal comprising of three districts, namely, North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas and East Midnapore is dominated by mangroves, estuaries, backwaters and brackishwater bheries. All these ecosystems are very rich in fauna including the crustaceans, many of which are of commercial value. In the present communication, an inventory of a total of 34 species of commercially important prawns and crabs has been prepared along with a list of 13 species of ill-tapped/untapped crustaceans. Data for marine shrimp (both penaeid and non- penaeid) and crab production and their export from the state have been presented. The major threats to crustacean fishery of the State of West Bengal have also been discussed along with the conservation issues.