Communication Parameters in the Marine Fisheries Sector of Kerala-A Study of Kollam Coastal Villages

Department of Applied Economics,Cochin University of Science and Technology

Institutional Dynamics in Community-Based Fisheries Resources Management for Sustainable Development of Marine Fisheries in Kerala

Department of Applied Economics, Cochin University of Science and Technology

The Impact of Integrated Marine Fisheries ‘Development Project Among the Artisanal Fishermen in Kerala

Despite various intervensions, artisanal fishermen remain one of the weaker sections in Kerala's society. Host of the welfare and developmental programmes introduced for them had produced very little impact on their living conditions. Further, they are unable to compete with mechanised sector for fishing. Host of the technological development which had taken place after Indo-Norvegean Project favoured the growth of mechanised sector. As a consequence of this, fishing become unviable for artisanal fishermen who propagate the idea of ” sustainable development” in the fishing industry. It is commonly believed that an integrated approach may help them to improve their living conditions substantially. In the light of the above background the scholar has made an attempt to study the impact of Integrated Marine Fisheries Development Project among artisanal fishermen in Kerala It is realised from the findings of the study that the most important needs of artisanal fishermen arecredit facilities and marketing support. Without marketing linkages effective credit management is not possible. Marketing activities and credit management are interdependent

Role of Commission Agents in the Development of Traditional Marine Fisheries of Kerala with Special Reference to Financing

The study clearly brings out the role of commission agents in the traditional marine fisheries sector and thereby goes to set at rest the controversy regarding their role. The findings of the study has important implications for formulation of policies and development strategies related to the traditional marine fisheries sector. The study points out the need for a thorough review and reformulation of the policies and development strategies for efficiently achieving the development potential of the traditional marine fisheries sector and for improving the economic conditions of the fishermen. The study is based mostly on Alappuzha District of Kerala, covering all the 30 marine fishing villages, spread over the three coastal taluks, namely, Karthikappally, Ambalappuzha and Cherthala

Institutional Analysis of Marine Fisheries Management Practices in Kerala, India

The study is important for the fact that it places the management dynamics of marine fisheries sector in the context of growing unrest of local communities over the emerging resource conflicts and degradation Economic crisis in small scale marine fisheries due to high operating cost continue to hinder the efforts towards conservation in many ways The migration of mechanized fleet as a response to profit maximization strategy of enterprises continues to be a threat to resource management Therefore this study explores how to revamp the small scale mechanized sector effectively and profitably to ensure rational allocation of resources The thesis attempts to examine how livelihood vulnerabilities of artisanal fish workers influence the crafting of management institutions Finally by combining insights of an institutional framework the study establishes the need for recognising the role of both formal and informal institutions in the management of marine fisheries in Kerala

Culture and Nutritional Enrichment of the Rotifer Brachionus Rotundiformis ( Tschugunoff ) for the Rearing of Marine Fin Fish and Shrimp Larvae

The present study is an attempt to standardize the environmental condition like pH, salinity and photoperiod, and also the feed for the maximum production of rotifers. Considering the deficiency of essential fatty acids in rotifers, enrichment experiments were carried out and fatty acids profile were analysed. Attempts were made to improve the production of clown fish (Amphiprion sebae) juveniles using enriched rotifers. Attempts were also made to rear various larval stages of Penaeus monodon with enriched rotifers as a substitute for Artemia nauplii.

Studies on food and feeding of marine demersal finfishes with special reference to trophic interactions

Food and feeding habits of fourteen demersal finfishes exploited off the Karnataka coast were studied to investigate trophic interactions within the marine food web. Index of Relative Importance (lRI),Ontogenetic, seasonal (pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon) variation in feeding and prey-predator relationship studies were conducted.The results of prey-predator trophic interaction studies identified four major trophic guilds based on the predators feeding similarity.Trophic guild I is 'copepod and detritus fceders'with an average group similarity of 61.4%. The second trophic guild, 'prawn and crab feeders'with an average similarity of 52.7%. 'Acetes feeders', the largest trophic guild with an average group similarity of 62.5%, composed of six demersal finfish species.The guild 'piscivores' is constituted by C. limba/us and P. arsius with an average similarity of 45%.For each predator, ontogenetic diet shift is common and is characterized by prey of low to high trophic level.Strong selection of certain prey types was observed in some predators while most of them avoided abundant prey.In addition to Acetes spp, strong predation impact was observed for penaeid prawns, epibenthic crabs and detritus.This information on trophic guilds and prey-predator interactions can be used to construct trophic model on the benthic ecosystem off Karnataka and to investigate fishery induced changes as well as predation impact of different animals on commercially important demersals

Studies on certain exploted marine finfish resource of India

This thesis Entitled Studies on certain exploited marine Finfish Resources of india.Marine fish catch forecasting is short term or long term basis for purposes of explation and management. Among the short term forecasts, two approaches need serious consideration in India: 1. to improve the methods of understanding the influence of environmental characteristics on the abundance or availability of fish in different areas in different periods and to make the forecasts of the same, 2. to make analysis of time series catch data (ARIMA models) to make forecasts of catch in the next year or in a particular period during next year. There is some evidence of suitability of these approaches to Indian marine fisheries but attempts aiming at comprehensive studies should be made. In the area of long term forecasts, considerable work is done in India on single species assessments but in the context of multi species, multigear nature of Indian marine fisheries, assessments of all species together in a mixed fishery are urgently required for effective managements of fisheries.

Studies on The Ecophysiology Of Some Heterotrophic and Indicator Bacteria In The Marine Environments of Kerala

The thesis entitled "Studies on the eco-physiology of heterotrophic and indicator bacteria in the marine environments of Kerala" embodies the results of an investigation carried out by the candidate at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin. It is presentedd under 4 chapters in two parts (Parts A & B) and includes 6 sections. The material for the study was collected in the Cochin backwater during April 1972 to February. 1973, March 1974 to February 1975, July 1975 to June 1976 and in the ishore area during January to October, 1978 and an account of the heterotropic and indicator bacteria are given with intensity charts and tables. Samples from all the stations contained significant quantities of heterotrophs (Part A, Section I) and faecal pollution indicators (Section II). Maximum number of heterotrophic bacteria was observed during the postmonsoon period. The total counts betwen one station and the other did not vary as much as the counts between months did. The distribution was characterised by overdispersion. During 1972-73 in all the stations except the fourth the minimum heterotrophs (Total counts) were recorded during the monsoon period. Minimum counts were observed during the premonsoon period, with an increasing trend from the premonsoon to postmonsoon seasons. Maximum counts were recorded during monsoon months during 1974-75. No significant difference was noted in the total plate count between stations, months and regions. Seasonal variations in sea water was meagre during 1975-76, whereas in sediments variations were prominent during monsoon in Station I - near the mouth of the sewage effluent of Cochin City and in postmonsoon at Station II in the Mattancherry Channel and Station III near barmouth

Studies on phytoplankton of the estuarine and marine environments

This thesis deals with the results oi’ investigations on phytoplankton productivity and related aspects conducted in various ecoaystms such as estuarine, inshore and oceanic enviroments and certain special ecosytans including the pu.-awn culture fields and associated many-eves, mud bank and the seas around the Andaman-Nicobar Islands. This study also includes the qualitative and quantitative variations of phytoplankton production, their seasonal abundance, factors controlling the same and the magnitude of the potential resources derived 1!:-om it

Energetics 0f A Few Marine Crustaceans

Success achieved in seed production and culture of prawns induced researchers to explore the feasibiltiy of culture of other important crustaceans like lobsters and crabs. The CMFRI initiated a project to study the prospects of spiny lobster’ culture and I was associated with this project from the beginning. Compared to shrimp farming, culture of spiny lobsters is an entirely different proposition due to inherent problems in producing their seeds. The emphasis on .obster culture, therefore, shifted to rearing of juvenile lobsters, which form a major portion in commercial lobster landings in India. Commendable success was achieved in enhancing growth rate of four important speices of spiny lobsters by bilateral eyestalk ablation. But due to strong reservations expressed against the "blinding" of lobsters by people from all walks of life, this technique could not be tested commercially for its economic viability. As in prawns, energetics of reproduction and egg development have not yet been documented in spiny lobsters and so these aspects were included in this study. Though some limited informations on food conversion efficiency are availble in spiny lobster, a detailed study on the effect of size and sexual maturity on food conversion was wanting and this also was included in this investigation. The most dominant spiny lobster in south east and south west coast of India, Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus) was selected for this study. Uptake, accumulation and utilization of minerals and trace elements are important events during embryogenesis of aquatic invertebrates. The scope of this study was widened to include these aspects also in order to understand how specific requirements of minerals and trace elements are met in the developing eggs of these two species of crustaceans.

Studies on the prevalence of algal blooms along Kerala coast, India

Algal blooms are naturally occurring phenomena in the aquatic environment. These blooms cause mass mortalities of wild and farmed fish and shellfish, human intoxications which sometimes result in death, alteration of marine trophic structure through adverse effects on larvae and other life history stages of commercially important species and death of marine animals. Occurrences of harmful algal blooms and associated mortality have been reported along the coastal waters of India since the early period of the last century. The present study was taken up to study the dynamics of major phytoplankton blooms, which occur along the Kerala coast. The results of quantitative and qualitative analysis of phytoplankton in the coastal waters of Vizhinjam and Chombala, their species diversity and community structure is presented and the major algal blooms recorded along the coast of Kerala during the study period is described and their occurrence is related to the hydrographic and meteorological variations. There is a clear evident from these works in the Indian region that the fishes avoid areas where these harmful algae bloom, either due to the toxicity or due to some irritant property of the chemicals secreted by the algae. Taxonomic diversity studies indicated a change in the community structure of commercial finfishes, crustaceans and molluscs due to the bloom of C.marina and funnel plots indicated the deviation in taxonomic distinctness during the bloom period from theoretical mean for the region.