Kalvams in Siridao between a rock and a hard place-ToI

Kalvams in Siridao between a rock and a hard place TNN | May 6, 2013, 05.03 AM IST Siridao: Huge rocks on the beach serve as the perfect breeding ground for clusters of oysters and the Siridao shore was once linked to the abundance of the delicacy, but pollution and some other factors have changed the status now. Kalvam, as the oysters are locally called, were taken to nearby markets from Siridao. "Now, they are not plucked for commercial purpose, but sold in the village itself," a villager said. The short stretch of the beach overlooking the Zuari estuary partly covered with rocks can be a paradise for persons interested in collecting shells. "But they have been declining in number since there is a lot of pollution in the rivers and sea due to domestic wastes, factory wastes and other wastes," the villager added. A study by national institute of oceanography (NIO) has revealed that the Mandovi and Zuari rivers have been polluted due to a high content of manganese, iron, cobalt and other trace elements, leaching from iron ore dumps on their banks during monsoon season. The plucking of oysters requires skill. One of the reasons why the number of fisherfolks extracting shell fishes has declined is migration. "Most fisherfolk have gone abroad. Not everyone can pluck these clams as it needs great skill to do so." said an elderly person from Siridao. Plucking the shellfish is a laborious and painstaking job. "The kalvam are collected from rocks submerged in the water, and plucked with sharp equipment that look like a ripping hook," Alfred D'Souza, 40, a Siridao resident said. The harvesting can be carried out only in the mornings at low tide, but separating them from the rocks is not an easy task as they cling to the rock. "People get hurt due to the sharp rocks; sometimes they even lose pieces of their fingers," D'Souza said. Villagers feel the erosion of the coast and removal of sand will wipe away shellfish. Water resources department has constructed a retaining wall on the beach to prevent the destructive impact of the sea on the beach. Kalvam are a soft and tasty delicacy. "I enjoy eating them as it is healthy, but this does not work out for everybody, since they are strong and contain too much of heat that can harm a diabetic patient," said Agnelo Dias, a fisherman. Deodita Lobo, 65, from Mandur said, "I like kalvam so much that every time I have them, I love them even more." She further recalls, "I remember craving for kalvam when I was expecting my baby, I can eat them everyday. They can be prepared in different ways and can add taste to many dishes." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Kalvams-in-Siridao-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place/articleshow/19905303.cms