India is blessed with abundant water resources in different forms and with diverse fish fauna. So the fishing techniques are also have much importance. Different kinds of fishing techniques are practiced in India from earlier days. These methods are wide in range from hand picking to modern trawl.
The craft and gears used in different areas are different by their design based on the fish species, available materials in the geographic region. Also based on the nature of aquatic resource. The gears are classified in many manner, Including use, materials used to make, shape etc. Fish traps and hook& line are the most primitive type of fishing gears.
Fish Traps
Trapping- an earliest method of fishing. Traps- impounding devices into which an organism is lured and troy which escape is made difficult because of the non-return device is fixed at the entrance
According to Job &Pantulu, traps being fixed engines do not require continuity of attention and vigilance on the part of the operation but can be left to function themselves and secure a catch while the operator is engaged in other occupation. Trap fishing have economic and energy related advantages over the active search and capture fisheries. They require modest investment and due to their efficiency, simplicity and the quality of catch obtained, this method is widely used in all water bodies.
In trapping the fish remain live or in good condition for a long time. Fish traps are operated in both inland and marine waters throughout India because of it is an eco friendly method. The artisanal fishermen in inland waters use primitive models of trapping. Modern traps are generally made up of plastics replacing the conventional bamboo sticks etc. and having separate part which can be assembled and dismantled easily.
Traps made up off twigs of Palmyra leaf and bamboo splinters are used in Tamilnadu, Kerala,Lakshadweep and Andaman Islands.
TYPES OF TRAPS
PLUNGE BASKET
Plunge basket is otherwise called as cover pots. In Kerala, commonly known as ottal or kuthukoodu.
It is conical in shape with the size of 50-70 cm height, 40-50 cm width at the lower and 15 cm at the top. Normally 10mm size bamboo splinters or sticks are used for constructing ottal. Split cane or other materials are used to keep the ribs in position.
It is mainly used to trapping freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), other prawns and crabs. The free wide ends are sharpened to push down and fixed temporarily in mud.
Narrow end is cover with cotton cloth and stitched with cotton or soft materials to avoid damage to operator. Plunge basket in northeast states mainly in Assam called polo,and Polui in West Bengal.
BOX TRAP
Box trap have ‘D’ shape or rectangular shape. In north Kerala this is known as chempallikkodu because of catching chembally (Lutjanus argentimaculatus), made up of split bamboo or arecanut tree with around 1.4*0.6*0.6 m size. Bottom piece is rectangular and fabricated used 10-15 strips have 7.4m length and 30-35 with 0.6m length kept perpendicular. It is also used to catch- Etroplus suratensis , Scylla serrata and Epinephelus spp. Etc.
Box traps in northeast are bolotha /pori and tesung purag& hookuri are
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BOX TRAP |
FILTER TRAP
Filter trap, locally known as padal made up of the coconut leaf sticks (eerkil) or bamboo splinters in a cylindrical shape. It is about 0.6m in length with a circular mouth of about 0.4m diameter at one end and other end of the slivers are bunched and tried so as to close it. Few traps or creeper stem hoops are fixed inside the trap to give a cylindrical shape. To prevent the slivers from opening 6-7 encircling lacings using coir are also given.Filter traps are set against the receding current in shallow rivulets and pokkali fields.
FILTER TRAP
APRONED FILTER TRAP
This is an improved filter trap popularly known as tharapadal in north Kerala.
This is a simple modification of the cone cage.
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| APRONED FILTER TRAP |
SCREEN BARRIERS
Long leaders of converging screens erected in shallow waters to lead the fishes into the chambers fixed in the end is known as fish fences or screen barriers. This type of trap is fixed during high tide and removed during the next low tide and the fish actively swim up into the barrier.The barrier made up of stone in Gujarat known as vada.
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| SCREEN BARRIERS |
Bamboo barrier
These are large encloses with retarding devices erected in shallow waters where an extensive tract of flooded land is in the process of draining.Life of bamboo screen is about one year where as screen made up of retting may last for several years.
Net barrier
Synthetic netting is cheaper and easy way to trap fishing by screening. The disco net is replacing the traditional theta khonda made of split bamboo and cotton twins.
ARIAL TRAP
These are specialized traps to capture fishes that jump when faced with an impediment. These fishes can be caught on the surface in boxes, rafts, boats and nets (Verandah nets). The fishes are enticed to jump out of water by placing obstacles and are caught in the air by special devices obstructing their jumps. Sometimes the fish are frightened to get them to jump out of the water. Thottilvala- a kind of aerial trap common in Kerala. The commonly used aerial traps in the northeast are Letidiya (Mud trench), and Dolonga (Verandah net).
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| ARIAL TRAP |
A mud trench is constructed in the water channel which blocks the flow of water. The sides of the trench are elevated creating a muddy pit in between it. When the fish encounter the obstruction, they try to jump over the barrier and fall in the mud and collects them by hand. Channa sp. and Puntius sp. are commonly caught through the aerial trapping. It is also used for the trapping of shrimps in Kerala, known as padal changadam. This is a fishing technique based on the shrimp’s reflex action to physical stimulation and is being used for harvesting the shrimps in perennial aquaculture farms in Kerala.
TUBULAR TRAPS
These are the traps or enticing devices exclusive of those made of textile which prevents the escape of fish by means of trap doors provided with non return valves. The traps vary in shapes. The catch comprises of fishes such as Mastacembalusaculeatus, M. armatus, Mysrus spp. Channa, etc.
SHELTER TRAPS
Specifically designed and operated considering the nature of fish to take safe shelter are known as shelter traps or habitat traps are provided with tree branches, shrubs, and twigs. They come in various size and shapes: Quadrangular, Conical, Cylindrical and Circular. Placed in low lying areas out of the water after 3 to 5 days and the fishes are taken out after removing the materials provided for shelter.
These traps are tied to a fixed bamboo pole with a strong rope to prevent displacement in the water.
The catch mainly- Mastacembelus armatus (tire track eel), Mystus spp., Puntius spp., Clarias batrachus, Channa spp, Notopterus notopterus (bronze featherback), small prawns.Etc.
HOOK & LINES
Hook and line this might be the one of the oldest and famous fishing method all over the world and one of the most dominant fishing methods. It is very economically viable technique to exploit the large pelagic, column and demersal predator fishes. The principle of line fishing is to offer bait and entice the fish or any other aquatic organism so that it can be lifted from the water together with the bait. In the primitive fisheries there existed curved hooks made of various perishable materials of plant and animal origin like Thorns, bones, tortoise shell, oyster shell and whale bone.Metals are used in modern days. The most important characteristic of hooks are their gap and their spread to ensure that fish shall be unable to spit the hook out with the bait after swallowing it. It should penetrate the mouth of the fish when the bait is taken or the line is pulled so that the fish becomes fast.Modern fish hooks come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials.
Two types of hooks:
J-hooks -manufactured with the point of the hook parallel to the shank of the hook creating a J-shape.
Circle hooks -manufactured with the point of the hook turned perpendicularly to the shank forming a circular
Traditionally J-hooks have been used in most fisheries, but recent efforts have been made to promote the use of circle hooks in more fisheries. Both J-hooks and circle hooks can be barbed or barbless. Barb- an additional point that protrudes from the inside of the hook that helps to retain the bait on the hook as well as a fish once it has been caught. Barbless hooks do not have an additional point and thus it is easier to remove from the fish when caught, which is considered less damaging to the fish.
COMMON HOOK AND LINE GEAR
HAND LINES
Hand line may be defined as the simplest form of hook and line gearconsisting of a hand held single line weighted and with one or more hooks spacedalong the far end of the line. Hand lines are popularly known as Choonda orkaichoonda and are operated in all types of water bodies. Length of the line also varies from 2 to 50 m, depending on the depth of operation. Hand lines can be operated very easily. Fishermen operate lines from shore, canoe or any elevated platforms like bridges and dams. They are dropped into the water at places where the fishes are expected and fishermen feels usually with hands when fish bites. Baited lines having a length of 20-30 m.
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| hand line |
LONG LINES
Long lines can be classified by how they are fished:
Set long lines: stationary lines that are anchored to the vessel, the seafloor or to an anchored buoy.
Drift long lines: attached to floats that drift freely with the ocean currents.
Long lines popularly known as beppe is operated in all places for fish and eel. Mainline is 200-800 m long and is made of Polypropylene twine of 2 to 3 mm diameter or Poly amide monofilament of l to1.2 mm diameter. Generally round barbed hook of size ranging from number 8-12 are used depending on the target species. Prawns and cut pieces of fish are used as bait.Pelagic species targeted by drift long lines include Tunas, Sharks and Swordfish. Demersal species targeted by set long lines include Cod and Halibut. Long lining is considered one of the most fuel-efficient methods of commercial fishing.
VERTICAL LINES
In enclosed water bodies the fishing lines can be allowed to drift freely attached to a float. lt can be a tackle with a single hook or a vertical or horizontal long line with several hooks. A kind of vertical line, popularly known as kenichi, is operated in weed infested canals and fields of Alappuzha, Kerala.
Jigger lines are a specialized type of vertical line, fitted with specialized ripped hooks, used primarily in Squid fisheries. Multiple hooks are evenly spaced along the main line, which is hauled in using jerky vertical movements. This movement simulates the realistic movement of common prey species of the targeted species.
TROLLING LINES
Trolling lines are lines with baited hooks that are dragged behind trollers as well as other types of vessels. Trolling speeds vary depending on the target species, but generally are between 2.6-8.1 mph.
A single line or multiple lines may be connected to outriggers that extend from both sides of the boat.
Targeted species vary in size from small fish like Mackerel to large pelagic species of tuna.
POLE AND LINE
Pole and line consists of a hook and line attached to a pole. If the line is much longer than the rod it is wound around a reel. Both artificial and natural fish are used to lure the prey. Poles are commonly made out of wood or fiberglass and can be operated by hand or mechanized. Tuna species are commonly caught by the pole and line method in commercial fisheries of Lakshadweep. Pole and line fishing can occur from the surface to great depths, the only limiting factor is the amount of line used.
MULTIPLE HOOK AND LINES
Lines with multiple hooks, a type of jigging line with 20 to 30 branches on one end. The main line is made of PA monofilament having 1.2-1.4 mm dia. and about 80 m length. 20-30 branches each having a hook. Length of the branch line is about 10 cm and it is tied to the main line at 10-15 cm intervals. A lead piece weighing 150-200 g is attached to the end of the line to keep the line under the current. This type of lines without bait is dropped from the dam and it is continuously pulled and released.
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