 The primary economic activities of the region are salt @-@ manufacturing , fishing , salt water prawn culture and agriculture . Saltpans ( crystallisers ) are spread over 11 @,@ 000 acres ( 45 km2 ) along the coastline , including those of small , medium and large salt manufacturers . According to estimates , about 3 @.@ 5 lakh tonnes of salt is produced annually in the region . The salt industry employs around 20 @,@ 000 people . Some of the major private companies like Chemplast Sanmar have salt manufacturing units in Vedaranyam . Salt manufacturing , the traditional occupation of the town , has been overshadowed by prawn cultivation since the 90s . All major nationalized banks such as Indian Bank , Canara Bank and Indian Overseas Bank and private banks like ICICI Bank , City Union Bank have their branches in Vedaranyam . 
