Monsoon trawl ban and its effects on the livelihood of trawl labourers: the case with Versova fishing village in Maharashtra

Indian fisheries sector in view of its potential contribution to national income, nutritional security, employment opportunities, social objectives and export earnings, plays an important role in the socio-economic development of the country. Fisheries sector contributes 4.3% to the agricultural GDP and export earnings are presently valued at over INR 68 billion from a volume of 460,000 tons. In addition, it provides direct and indirect employment and dependency for over seven million people in the country. With an estimated production potential of 8.4 million tons, the present level of production in the country is 5.9 million tons with almost equal contribution from both marine and inland sectors. The estimated fisheries potential from the Indian exclusive economic zone was found to be 3.9 million tons. But in spite of the increased efforts in fish production, the catch stagnates around 2.9 million tons. The stagnation in catches, mainly due to the over exploitation of dwindling marine resources, forced the government to impart some management measures to regulate the fishery and for the sustenance of the marine resources. The monsoon trawl ban in fisheries was one of the major reforms, which had created a substantial increase in fish production in the past few years. The ban on trawling during monsoon season was introduced in Maharashtra, after a series of studies, from 1992 for a period of 65 days from 10 June to 15 August or Naralipoornima, whichever is earlier. A notable increase in production from the marine sector of the country occurred in the post-ban period. Nevertheless, it had created problems in employment, poverty and income distribution of fishermen during the ban period and was always a matter of unrest between mechanized and traditional sectors of fishing. The aim of this study was to understand the impact of the ban on monsoon trawling in employment pattern, poverty and income distribution of fishermen along the coast of Maharashtra. The study was conducted at the Versova fishing village, Mumbai, and provides reflections on the possible impact of monsoon ban in the livelihood and standard of living of the fishermen in the state.

Further investigations on the relative efficiency of different shaped otter boards

Horizontal curved, vertical curved and V-shaped otter boards were studied to compare their relative efficiency under identical fishing conditions. The gear operated with V-shaped otter boards performed well followed by the gear fitted with horizontal curved boards. Vertical curved boards were found to be comparatively less efficient, but with slight modification, can be used advantageously for bottom and off bottom fishes. Fishing at various depths with horizontal curved and V-shaped otter boards at different scope ratios showed better performance of horizontal curved boards at a scope ratio of 1:6 and V-shaped otter boards at a scope ratio of 1:5.

Evolution of suitable trawl nets for medium size trawlers - 1: Comparative fishing efficiency between 32 m bulged belly, long wing and four panel trawls

Comparative studies of the efficiency of 32 m bulged belly, long wing and four panel trawls have shown that the bulged belly trawl to be superior to the other nets in catching bottom fishes and column fishes. 40% of the bottom fishes and 48% of the column fishes were caught by the bulged belly trawl. However, for prawn catch, the long wing trawl appears to be better as it landed 52% of the total prawn catch of the three nets. Bulged belly trawl was found to be next only to long wing trawl in this respect.

Transient growth and triggering in the horizontal Rijke tube Matthew

This theoretical paper examines a non-normal and non-linear model of a horizontal Rijke tube. Linear and non-linear optimal initial states, which maximize acoustic energy growth over a given time from a given energy, are calculated. It is found that non-linearity and non-normality both contribute to transient growth and that, for this model, linear optimal states are only a good predictor of non-linear optimal states for low initial energies. Two types of non-linear optimal initial state are found. The first has strong energy growth during the first period of the fundamental mode but loses energy thereafter. The second has weaker energy growth during the first period but retains high energy for longer. The second type causes triggering to self-sustained oscillations from lower energy than the first and has higher energy in the fundamental mode. This suggests, for instance, that low frequency noise will be more effective at causing triggering than high frequency noise.

Impact of small indigenous species of fish (SIS) on livelihood of local fishing community in two upazilas of Mymensingh

The fisher folk used to catch small indigenous species of fish (SIS) from rivers, canals, wetlands and floodplains at little or no cost for their livelihood. Surplus fish was sold at the local market to generate some little capital for the households. The livelihood and consumption of SIS in fishing community of two upazilas viz. Trisal and Ishwarganj under Mymensingh district were studied for 3 months in 2004. Most of the fisher folk of the study areas belong to resource-poor section of the society living below the poverty level. Majority of them had no cultivable land. As professional fishers they face many problems during lean fishing period from January to April due to little or non-availability of fish. Majority of the fisher households consumed SIS three to four days a week. The fisher households of Trisal upazila consumed more small fish than those of Ishwargonj upazila. More than 50% respondents consumed <20 g SIS/day and 20% consumed >40 g SIS/day in Trisal upazila. On the other hand, in Ishwargonj upzila, most of the fisher households (66%) were found to consume <20 g SIS/day. SIS was mostly available from July-December in rivers, wetlands (beels), and canals, and income from fishing was reported to be good. The dominant SIS was Puntius spp., Mystus spp., Anabas testudineus, catfishes, mola, and small prawns. Non-indigenous species like tilapia was also dominant in Trisal upzila where aquaculture practices were well established.

Development of trawls for medium sized trawlers for Veraval, north-west coast of India

Comparative fishing experiments with 25 m bulged belly and 25 m six seam trawls were carried out to study the relative efficiency of the gear. Bulged belly trawl was found more efficient than the other at depths below 40 m. The tension and horizontal opening were more in bulged belly and six seam trawl respectively. Bulged belly caught more of prawns and lobsters but there was no significant difference in the catch of sciaenids, cephalopods and ribbon fishes in the two nets.

Column set gill net fishing in Gobindsagar reservoir

Previous authors observed the influence of temperature variations in movement of fishes and noticed better catches in bottom set nets during summer in Tungabhadra reservoir. The present account reports on similar observations in Gobindsagar reservoir.

Cathodic protection of aluminium sheathed wooden fishing boats with ternary aluminium anodes

Results of laboratory and field trials on cathodic protection of aluminium sheathing in fishing boats by ternary aluminium anodes are presented. The high negative potential of 1.06 V with respect to saturated calomel electrode, its appreciably low anodic polarization and high current output are favourable factors for using the ternary aluminium anodes. The low rate of consumption of the anode material under service trials attests its economic viability.

Hydrography of fishing grounds of Arabian sea off Mangalore

Hydrographical parameters, namely temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and density of the fishing grounds off Mangalore extending over an area of ca 850 km² have been studied during March 1976 - March 1977. Twelve stations along three transects up to 50 m isobaths were located for sampling. The vertical distribution of temperature show three distinct phases, namely, a period of conspicuous variation, a short intermediary phase and a period of thermal stability. The dissolved oxygen of the bottom waters was drastically low during September. Salinity fluctuations were not considerable between months and depths. Dense waters existed over the shelf region, especially along the bottom during september and to a certain extent in october also. The distribution patterns of temperature, dissolved oxygen and density clearly indicate the movement of cold, dense, oxygen-poor- bottom waters from greater depths to the upper reaches of the shelf during September.

Spiny lobsters and their fishing techniques

Scores of publications on spiny lobsters and their fishing techniques are available from various parts of the world. A variety of fishing gears which vary in design and operation are employed for exploiting lobsters. A review of the work carried out on spiny lobsters with special reference to their distribution, fishing gear, fishing methods, baits and crafts in India, Sri Lanka, United States, Australia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Ireland and Portugal based on selected literature are considered and discussed.

Fishing experiments with frame nets in Hirakud reservoir, Orissa

Experiments conducted with frame nets of sizes 1.0 m, 1.25 m 1.5 m, 1.75 m and 2.0 m in Hirakud reservoir showed that the net with 1.75 m frame gave the highest catches.

A note on the comparative catch efficiency of nylon over cotton gill nets in reservoir fishing

The authors conducted a series of experiments to evaluate the relative efficiency of nylon over cotton in tropical waters, particularly in reservoir fishing. The experiments were conducted in the Gobindsagar reservoir (Himachal Pradesh/Punjab). The nets made with both materials were identical in essential details like twine size, mesh size, number of floats arid sinkers and hanging coefficients.

Fishing gear in freshwater reservoirs of India

Consequent on the great emphasis given to irrigation, power generation and flood control, several river valley reservoirs have been formed. The fact that these reservoirs support a fairly rich fishery potential needs no special mention. The total reservoir water area in the country is 6.4 lakh h.a. (16 lakh acres) and the yield is 5 to 8 kgm/h. a. in certain reservoirs, rising up to 40 kgm/h.a. in some of the highly productive ones.

A case history on the phenomenal corrosion of marine propellers in fishing boats

Although high tensile brassess of copper-zinc alloys (Manganese bronze) find extensive use in all marine applications, under aggressive sea-water, marine propellers cast out of such an alloy frequently suffer heavy corrosion damages due to dezincification. An interesting case history where a number of propellers have undergone dezincification in the Cochin backwaters is narrated in this paper.

Utilization of treated wood, steel, fibreglass, ferrocement and aluminium in the construction of modern fishing boats and their comparative cost analysis

Modern fishing boats have to be built not only on perfect lines but also with sound and strong construction materials that will ensure a long lasting trouble free service commensurate with the heavy capital investment involved. Choice of construction materials for fishing boats need careful scrutiny as they have to perform too well under most aggressive environments-sea-water and marine atmosphere. A number of alternative boat-building materials are now available whose comparative merits and demerits as well as comparative costs are brought out in this paper.