Wetland Watch. 6. Bellamya Fishing at Stake in and around Garia Fishery System, Kolkata, West Bengal

Abstract

Freshwater snail belonging to Bellamya species, viz., Bellamya bengalensis (Lamarck), locally known as 'Gugli', is an important edible snail inhabiting freshwater wetlands throughout India. It is consumed as nutritional food in the form of soup and curry as well as roasted by the tribal and poor populace of the country as protein supplement as well as for its medicinal value in curing diseases like asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, joint pain and night blindness. Also, use of this snail-water in curing redness of eye and conjunctivitis is well recognised in rural and urban population of North Eastern India.