ABSTRACT
Gobiids are small benthic fishes inhabiting a wide range of habitats. Oxyurichthys tentacularis, is an inland water gobiid fish known as Koozhali in vernacular. As a table fish, it is economically important and palatable. The main factors responsible for weakening of the lake are pollution and encroachment. Pollution through, sewage, household waste, intensive coconut husk retting, toxic heavy metals from industries, oil hydrocarbons from fishing trawlers, tourism activities, fertilizers and pesticides through surface runoff are the major threats reported in the Lake. The pollution in Ashtamudi Lake is a serious threat to the aquatic organisms inhabiting the lake. Pollution load destroys the aquatic invertebrates which prove vital for the survival of many fishes. The negative growth pattern of the fish O. tentacularis in the present study may be due to the poor environmental conditions prevalent in the Ashtamudi Lake ecosystem, especially the high level of pollution.
