Abstract:
The present study was carried out to analyze the possibility of aquaculture in selected
mangrove regions in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. A detailed study on the possibility of aquaculture
was carried out in Sarasaalai (L1) and Kapputhu (L2) mangrove regions. Relevant water
quality parameters were measured, organic matter was estimated and available fish species
were collected and identified during the study period. Samples were collected in the second
week of each month fromJune2016 to November 2016. Water quality parameters such as
water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, water depth and turbidity were measured.
Organic matter in the collected soil samples were estimated. Water quality parameters were
analyzed by two sample t-test using minitab13.Identification of all the collected fish species
were confirmed according to the standard literature by observing their morphological and
meristic characters. Statistical analysis did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05)
between Sarasaalai and Kapputhu in water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and
water depth though a significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed for turbidity. High
percentage of organic matter was observed in Sarasaalai. The identified fish species in both
locations were Chanos chanos, Platycephalus fuscus, Oreochromis mossambicus,
Nematalosa nasus, Hyporhamphus limbatus, Hemiramphus marginatus, Etroplus
maculates, Gerres abbreviatuis and Gerres oyena. The most abundant species in Sarasaalai
was O. mossambicus and in Kapputhu were O. mossambicus, C. chanos, G. abbreviatus and
G. oyena. It can be concluded that a few of the economically valued and non-invasive
species can be cultured in the said regions however after a detailed study.
