Commercially exploited edible bivalves off Mumbai

Abstract

Bivalves are benthic molluscs occurring in intertidal to subtidal areas. In the food chain they feed low, mainly on plankton and detritus, which are abundantly available in the natural waters circulated by the tides . . Many species of bivalves occur abundantly along the Indian coast of which at least 50 species are commercially important. Edible oysters, clams, cockles, mussels and scallops are the prime groups, which contribute towards the fishery in the marine, estuarine and freshwater habitats