A participatory study of the traditional knowledge of fishing communities in the Gulf of Mannar, India

This is the first in a series of case studies undertaken by the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) to document the traditional knowledge of fishing communities dependent on marine and coastal resources in protected and conserved areas in different parts of the world. The study, done with the support of the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) project, documents the traditional knowledge of fishing communities in the Gulf of Mannar in the state of Tamil Nadu. It focuses on two fishing villages, Chinnapalam and Bharathi Nagar, whose communities have traditionally depended on Krusadai and Appa Islands for their livelihood. Traditional knowledge relating to oceanographic, meteorological, biological, ecological and navigational aspects of fisheries was documented. The study will be useful for researchers, students, scientists, policymakers, fishworker organizations, NGOs and anyone interested in the traditional knowledge of local fishing communities related to marine biodiversity and the customary use of fisheries resources and fishing practices.

Asserting rights, defining responsibilities: perspectives from small-scale fishing communities on coastal and fisheries management in Cambodia

In preparation for the Workshop and Symposium on “Asserting Rights, Defining Responsibilities: Perspectives from Small-scale Fishing Communities on Coastal and Fisheries Management in Asia”, held in Siem Reap Cambodia, from 3 to 8 May 2007, case studies were undertaken in six countries in Asia—Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. Among other things, the studies aimed to document and explore the understanding that fishing communities have about their rights to fisheries and coastal resources, as well as the obligations and responsibilities associated with these rights, and to document and discuss their initiatives to assert these rights and fulfill their responsibilities. The studies formed the basis for discussions at the Workshop and Symposium. This case study from Cambodia will be found useful by NGOs, regional and national organizations of artisanal fishworkers, and anyone interested in fisheries and fishing communities in Cambodia.

Asserting rights, defining responsibilities: perspectives from small-scale fishing communities on coastal and fisheries management in the Philippines

In preparation for the Workshop and Symposium on “Asserting Rights, Defining Responsibilities: Perspectives from Small-scale Fishing Communities on Coastal and Fisheries Management in Asia”, held in Siem Reap Cambodia, from 3 to 8 May 2007, case studies were undertaken in six countries in Asia—Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. Among other things, the studies aimed to document and explore the understanding that fishing communities have about their rights to fisheries and coastal resources, as well as the obligations and responsibilities associated with these rights, and to document and discuss their initiatives to assert these rights and fulfill their responsibilities. The studies formed the basis for discussions at the Workshop and Symposium. This case study from the Philippines will be found useful by NGOs, regional and national organizations of artisanal fishworkers, and anyone interested in fisheries and fishing communities in the Philippines.

Enhancing capacities of fishing communities: ICSF-BOBLME sub-regional dialogue on labour, migration and fisheries management. Report of the proceedings, 11 to 13 December 2013, Chulalongkorn University,Thailand

This report on the “Sub-regional Dialogue on Labour, Migration and Fisheries Management”, held at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, from 11 to 13 December 2013, highlights the issue of migrant labour on board fishing vessels and the problems migrant workers face in their workaday lives. This report will be useful for students, researchers, activists and anyone else interested in matters related to fisheries and small-scale fishing communities.

Rights first, rights forever: small-scale fisheries and fishing communities from a human-rights perspective. A collection of articles from SAMUDRA report

Small-scale and artisanal fisheries contribute about two-thirds of the global fish production destined for direct human consumption. They also accommodate over 90 per cent of those who make their living from fisheries. Women comprise at least half the workforce in small-scale fisheries. Despite the important contributions made by small-scale fisheries to poverty eradication and food security, small-scale fishers and fishworkers continue to be marginalized at different levels. It is in this context that the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has developed the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines).

Socio-cultural influences on sanitation, fish handling and artisanal fish processing within the fishing communities

The fishery sector in Uganda has seen important changes in the last two decades. Among the changes registered, is the expansion of fish markets locally, regionally and internationally. Upon which, remarkable benefits have been realized at local and national levels, for instance, it is estimated that an average of 40m$ is being earned annually as foreign exchange. Besides, presently fish accounts for over 50% of total animal protein in take. However, it is argued that sustaining these gains has become an up hill task due to failure to maintain fish quality as a result of the rudimentary and inappropriate sanitary, fish handling and artisanal fish processing practices that both directly and indirectly affect the quality of fish and fish products. Therefore, against this background, a study of 507 respondents was undertaken among the Lake Victoria Communities specifically in Wakiso, Mayuge and Mukono districts. The study examined the perceptions of fishers on the social cultural practices of sanitation, fish handling and artisanal fish processing and consequently identified factors that influenced these practices.

Circulation system and areas of potentially successful tuna fishing with surface methods off Mozambique

Charts with 3-months running means of thermal data collected during 1977-1982 are used to describe the seasonal variability of the circulation pattern off Mozambique, and to identify the areas of tuna vulnerability to surface gears. The main conclusions reached by Sætre and Jorge da Silva (1984) have received further support. Areas of potentially successful exploitation of tunas by surface methods have been identified during the whole year, with emphasis for November-April.

Preliminary report on experimental fishing with purse seine and lampara nets for small pelagic fish varieties around Sri Lanka

Government of Sri Lanka initiated a project for conducting a experimental skipjack fishery using modern pole and line method and an experimental fishery for live bait and small pelagic fish using purse seine and lampara nets, with the, assistance of UNDP and FAO. Accordingly, the survey for small pelagic fish varieties using the purse seine and lampara nets commenced in April, 1972 and will continue until the end of 1975. This paper is a preliminary report on the results of the survey carried out between Septernber 1972 to October 1978.

Sanitation, fish handling and artisanal fish processing within fishing communities: socio-cultural influences

postive transformation of the fisheries sector in Uganda has of recent been scatted by failure to mountain fish quality and safety,akey prerequiste for retaining and gaining fish markets. The social cultural study established the extent to which social cutural practices had affected the levels and the use of sanitation facilities,fish handling facilities and artisanal fish processing techniques and the factors that influenced these practices in the fishing communities of lake victoria. This information is of significance for the purpose of advocacy and mobilization of fishers in order to improve sanitation, fish handling and artisanal fishing processing situation in the fishing communities.

Economic viabilty of fishing enterprises on Lake Victoria, Uganda

Fishing in Uganda are largely developed into comericially oriented activity as a result of the fish export trade that started in the late 1980's. Despite this rapid commercialization,poverty level among fishing communities have remained relatively high thus raising concerns about the profitability of fishing. An analysis of the costs, earnings and profitability of the various fishing enterprises in Uganda was undertaken to address this concern.

Development of off-shore and deep-sea fishing in Sri Lanka

Since 1950 onwards, a practice has grown in Sri Lanka of dividing the marine fisheries into three different classes depending on the location of the resource to be exploited viz. coastal fishing, off-shore fishing and deep-sea fishing. The author describes commercial fishing activities, paying attention to changes emerged and future prospectives.

Demersal fishery resources of Sri Lanka and its present level of exploitation with special reference to off-shore and deep-sea waters

Following a brief review of development of demersal fishing off Sri Lanka, the author reviews the fishing grounds of the Wadge Bank, the Pedro Bank, and the Mannar Bank. He reviews the deepwater trawling fisheries particularly in relation to the 1972 survey conducted by the 'Optimist' and also small boat trawling in coastal waters. Lastly he considers handlining for groundfish, which is principally conducted by fishermen operating traditional craft.

Fishing gear and methods for off-shore fishing in Sri Lanka

The author describes the commercial viable off-shore fishing methods for catching known commercial resources available around Sri Lanka. He also describes the in-shore fishing methods such as bait fishery which are related and of prime importance for carrying out certain off-shore methods. The paper is intended as a background for the description of fishing methods. The methods discussed are: (1) Longlining for large pelagic species such as large tuna (yellow fin, big eye), shark, spearfish and others; (2) Drift-netting for small and large tuna species (skipjack, yellow fin and others), shark, spearfish, etc.; (3) Pole and line for all deep-sea pelagic species such as skipjack, yellow fin, frigate mackerel, etc.; and (4) Purse seining (small scale) for small pelagic species suitable as bait fish for pole and line and longline fisheries.