Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences Vol. 42(4), August 2013, pp. 481-486 Ecological status of cerethium caeruleum at dwarka coast, Gujarat (India) Bharatsinh Gohil 1 & Rahul Kundu 2 1 Department of Life Sciences, Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar-364 001, India 2 Department of Bio Sciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot-360 005, India [E-Mail: bharatsinh.gohil@yahoo.com] Received 21 October 2011; revised 06 February 2012 The present investigation was carried out to study the present ecological status of Cerethium caeruleum at Dwarka coast, Gujarat, India. C. caeruleum is a dominating mollusc species that are found mostly on the upper middle littoral zone as well as lower middle littoral zone of the intertidal substratum. As they are covered with a very hard and solid shell, fluctuation in physical condition hardly brings any change on their distribution. It was observed from the present investigation that the frequency values did not show any definite trend at the sites. It is evident that there is no significant difference of the population abundance existed between the sites as well as among the seasons. [Keywords: Dwarka Coast, Intertidal Zone, Ecological status, Cerethium caeruleum] Introduction Amongst marine products for human consumption, molluscs constitute an edible group next to fish and crustaceans. In America, Europe, Japan and other countries, molluscs are recognized as nutritive seafood rich in glycogen, vitamins and several minerals. Recently molluscs like edible oysters, mussels, claims, chanks, squids, cuttle fish and octopus have great demand as frozen or dried food in India as well as in many foreign countries. Mollusks have a status of their individual commercial fishery, and are caught and exported in great numbers. Molluscan shells have been found to be important raw material for various commercial products as poultry feeds, fertilizers, tooth powder, tooth pest etc. Moreover, shells of a number of molluscs are cleaned, polished and used in preparation of various handicrafts like interior decoration items, jewellerys, toys, curios, ash-trays, bangles, rings, necklaces, buttons and many other items of interest and commercial use. India exports seashells and cuttle fish bones to various countries (Sarvaiya, 1989). The commercially important molluscs, Trochus and Turbos occupy a prominent position because of their abundance and economic value (Appukuttan, 1977). Substantial fisheries for Mancinella, Trochus and Turbo's shells and meat exist in many part of the world as important gastropod molluscs. They are also utilized as food and are caught in large number on Indian coast. Hence, commercial exploitation of these molluscs by various coastal people has stated deeming of population of these molluscs on Indian coast including the coast of Saurashtra and Gulf of Kachchh. The harvest of these species along with other molluscs requires urgent need of control on their harvest or their resource managements; otherwise the population of these economically important gastropods might be declined to extinction. Therefore, extensive studies are of prime need in resource management in developing countries like India. Detailed studies on population status of Cerethium caeruleum would considerably help to revive the population in fishing ground in due course. Moreover, these studies would be guidelines in transportation of these molluscs to those areas like Marine National Parks, and other places which are well protected from anthropogenic pressure. Saurashtra coastline of the Kathiawar Peninsula is mostly rocky-muddy with irregular patches of sand. The industrial groups that have grater dominance in this area besides existing port with facilitate import or export of fish and fishery products are rayon, cement, food & fodder industry, fertilizers, salt, cement, soda ash and lime stone associated industries. Tourism is also another related problem for the intertidal zones of the Kathiawar Peninsula. Thus, present ecological status of the macrofaunal assemblage in this industrially