Bijayalakshmi Devi Nongmaithem, Sarojnalini Chungkham, Ajit Kumar N.G. and Nanaocha Sharma
Abstract
The phylum Mollusca are widely diverse group which are spread across freshwater and marine environment. However, the freshwater mollusc are lesser known. Freshwater mollusc such as snails and bivalves are not only a delicacy in the north-eastern states of India but also has been used in traditional medicine. Till date, huge data are available for the food value and health benefit of marine gastropod and bivalves which has economic importance and has export potential. But the north eastern region of India is not a ware of those marine species which has scientific information. Therefore, need has been arisen to understand the locally available underutilized and underrepresented freshwater mollusc species of Manipur. This study aims to assess the current use of edible freshwater molluscan resources (such as gastropods and bivalves) and the potential for value-adding the molluscan fisheries in Manipur, India. A total number of 1500 mollusc consumer and 31 state government personals were interviewed. The consumer consists of 56.66% female and 43.33% male population. Majority (47.13%) of the respondents belong the annual income group of