Pulicat Lake — India's Second Largest Brackish Water Lagoon

Characteristics and ecology

Pulicat is a shallow, coastal lagoon where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with seawater, producing brackish conditions that support a mix of estuarine and marine life. The lake is dotted with mudflats, marshes and mangrove patches that provide nursery habitat for fish and crustaceans. Seasonal fluctuations in salinity and water level influence which species prosper in any given year, and the lake is notable as a stopover and wintering area for migratory waterbirds.

Human uses and local economy

Communities around the lagoon depend on a range of uses: traditional and mechanised fishing, shellfish and shrimp collection, salt production in adjoining pans, and small-scale agriculture on higher ground. The fishing village of Pulicat at the southern end gives the lake its name and has long been a local centre for boat-based livelihoods. The presence of the space centre on Sriharikota adds a very different human use to the region, bringing restricted zones, transport links and occasional economic activity related to launches and associated services.

History and cultural context

The Pulicat area has a long human history as a coastal trading zone and settlement site. At different times it served as a local port and experienced contacts with regional and foreign traders. Over the centuries, human settlements and industry have reshaped shoreline habitats and influenced patterns of freshwater inflow and sedimentation, which in turn affect the lagoon’s ecology.

Conservation, threats and management

The lagoon supports a declared bird sanctuary and is important for both resident and migratory species. At the same time, Pulicat faces multiple pressures: altered river flows, increased siltation, pollution from urban and industrial sources, expansion of aquaculture and salt pans, and the effects of extreme weather and sea-level rise. These forces can reduce mangrove cover, change salinity regimes and degrade nursery habitats for fish. Conservation efforts combine protected-area management, habitat restoration, regulation of destructive practices and community-based measures to sustain fisheries and biodiversity.

Notable facts and distinctions

• Second largest brackish lake in India, often compared with Chilika for its ecological and socio-economic significance.
• Most of the lagoon falls within Andhra Pradesh, with a small part in Tamil Nadu.
• The barrier island of Sriharikota divides the lagoon from the Bay of Bengal and contains a major spaceport, creating an unusual juxtaposition of natural and technological landscapes.
• The Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary and adjacent wetlands are important for migratory waterbirds and local fisheries alike.

Understanding Pulicat requires attention to both ecological patterns and the human activities that shape them. Efforts to reconcile livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and regional development remain central to the lake’s long-term future.