Traditional Fishing Gears, Fish Catch and Species Composition of Selected Floodplain Wetlands of Lower Gangetic Plains, West Bengal, India
Traditional Fishing Gears, Fish Catch and Species Composition of Selected Floodplain Wetlands of Lower Gangetic Plains, West Bengal, India
Date
2019
Authors
Sandhya, K. M.
Roy, Aparna
Hassan, M. A.
Kumari, Suman
Mishal, P.
Lianthuamluaia, L.
Kumar, Vikash
Aftabuddin, M.
Meena, D. K.
Ali, Y.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Society of Fisheries Technologists (India)
Abstract
Floodplain wetlands (locally called as beels) are
biologically sensitive habitats playing vital role in
fish recruitment as well as acting as nursery ground
for fishes and play an important role in the rural
economy of West Bengal. Catch composition and
details of fishing gears used in eight beels from four
districts of West Bengal were documented. Gears
based on their operation were categorised into active
and passive fishing gears. Use of these gears were
found to vary according to water depth, season,
water area, type of fish species, availability of raw
material for gear fabrication etc. The socio-economic
background of the fishers as well as their traditional
knowledge in fishing is also very important in the
selection of gears. Most of the fishers were using
gears made with netting material of nylon for
catching the fishes. A total of 12 gear types along
with their details, gear efficiency in terms of the type
of species caught and the catch per day were
recorded. Average fish catch/day was maximum for
Berjal which varied from 75-105 kg comprising of
stocked fishes like Indian Major Carps, Exotic carps
as well as indigenous fishes. Use of small meshed
nets was recorded in this region which may lead to
imbalances in fish stocks affecting icthyodiversity as
well as sustainable exploitation of fishes. Creating
awareness among the beel fishers on the adverse
effects of fine mesh nets on biodiversity was felt
necessary.
Description
Keywords
beels, gear efficiency, catch per day, traditional knowledge, ichthyodiversity
Citation
Fishery Technology 56 : 101 - 109