World Journal of Fish and Marine Sciences 12 (1): 01-05, 2020 ISSN 2078-4589 © IDOSI Publications, 2020 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjfms.2020.01.05

Fishing Gear and Craft Used at under Hatiya of ,

Md. Wahiduzzaman and Md. Robiul Hasan

Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh

Abstract: The study became performed to perceive the sorts of fishing gears, crafts, their availability and their mode of operation in fishing at Nijhum Dwip during the period from January to June 2019. Data were collected by key informants interview, questionnaire interview, crosscheck discussion and secondary sources. A total of 8 types of fishing gears and 2 types of crafts were identified among them fishing nets were categorized into 5 grouped based on their mode of operation or action and catching of fish including gill net, fixed purse net, seine net, cast net, framed/ dip net. Among them, 1 type of gill nets (illish jal/chandi jal), fixed purse nets (behundi jal), seine net (jogot ber jal), cast net (jhaki jal/khapla jal), framed or dip net (thela jal), hooks and lines (sip or barsi), traps (polo), fishing spears (teta) were found. Float and sinkers were used in nets where locally available materials made the float, sinker was made by iron and zinc alloy. Synthetic twines were used for net making and mending. No chemical or medicine was used; only the net was dried under the sun and put it on a safe and dry place. Two (2) types of fishing crafts were identified from the present study viz. chandi nauka and chooto trawler. Traditionally, fishers use woods (chapalish, telshur, mehe guni, rendi karai and kali korai), bamboos and irons to make their boats, which are locally available and was furnished by coal tar and burned oil. Most of the fishing operated boats are mechanized. The fisherman used some of the gears like ber jal and behundi jal, which were banned by the government. Majority of the boats have no licenses, which reflects a lack of awareness and law enforcement by the responsible authority.

Key words: Fishing Gear Fishing Craft Nijhum Dwip

INTRODUCTION important for its geographical location and vast fish diversity. This area is potential for capturing different In Bangladesh, fisheries are playing an essential types of fish. The people of this island lead their role in the economy and food security in our country. livelihood by cultivation and fishing. Various types of About more than 11% of the total populace of Bangladesh fishing crafts and gears are being used at the Nijhum are engaged with this sector in full time and part-time Dwip for commercial exploitation of the fishery basis for their livelihoods. It contributes 3.61% to our resources [2, 3]. national GDP and around one-fourth (24.41percent) Fishing gear is any form of device, put in force, tool to the agricultural GDP [1]. The fisheries sector plays or mechanical tool used to seize, acquire or harvest fish a primary source of animal protein for the rural poor. [4]. Fishing Craft includes specialized boat, ship or Fish supplements to about 60% of our daily animal protein other vessel used for fishing [4]. The essential classes of intake. It creates scope for employment opportunities, fishing gears which are historically used in Bangladesh food security, foreign incomes and socio-economic can be enumerated as the following: nets, fishing traps, improvement. hooks and contours, wounding gears and fish Nijhum Dwip is a small island under . aggregation device [5]. Various varieties of substances It is situated at 21°35'0 N 92°01'0 E in Noakhali District in are used to make those fishing gears including netting, Bangladesh. In the past, it was called as Char Osmani, cord, plastic structural and fasteners, clips and swivels, Baluar Char and Golden Island. Nijhum Dwip is more ropes, metal wire ropes, combination twine ropes,

Corresponding Author: Md. Robiul Hasan, Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh. E-mail: [email protected]. 1 World J. Fish & Marine Sci., 12 (1): 01-05, 2020 handbag jewellery, polyester, polyethene, nylon, cotton, by questionnaire interviews and personal communication polypropylene, combined fibres, floats and sinkers, from the study area. Crosscheck interviews were bamboo, wooden and many others [6]. The main types of conducted with key informants which include Upazila fishing craft that are traditionally used in Bangladesh are Fisheries Officer (UFO), District Fisheries Officers (DFO) Dinginauka, Chandinauka, Koshanauka and Shampan [4]. and other fishing related person for justification of the The shape and size of the gear and craft vary based on collected data. the purpose of the use and the environmental condition of the water body at Nijhum Dwip. For that, the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION knowledge about different types of gears and crafts is necessary. Moreover, using of Fishing Gear and Craft at The study showed that a wide variety of fishing Nijhum dwip have been poorly identified and there is a gears and crafts were operated throughout the year in the lack of information about Fishing Gear and Craft in Nijhum Nijhium Dwip for commercial fishing. A total of 8 types of dwip. Therefore, the comprehensive study is needed to fishing gears and two types of fishing crafts were identify the different types of fishing gears and crafts identified in the study area. All fishing nets were used in Nijhum dwip. categorized into five grouped based on their mode of operation or action and catching of fish including gill MATERIALS AND METHODS net, fixed purse net, seine net, cast net, framed/ dip net (Table 1). Study Area: The study area is Nijhum Dwip a small island under Hatiya Upazila at Noakhali District in Bangladesh Fishing Gears just 2 kilometres southwest of Hatiya under Noakhali Gill Net: Gill net is commonest fishing tackle employed district. Latitude is 22°02´30.89 N and Longitude is by the fishermen. These nets are erected in water 90°59´05.85 E. It is about 120 km south of bazaar. column vertically perpendicular to the movement of fish. As the fish plan to swim through the mesh of the Period of the Study: The study was conducted for 6 (six) net, they become snagged their gill operculum and fins. months from January to June 2019. Primary and secondary The meshes of the nets vary 0.5-5cm. The gill nets are facts had been used for this study. used singly or in series. This is a passive gear. Gill nets are vertical walls of netting set out in the water column at Data Collection: Primary information was collected from a straight line by a series of floats attached to their upper fishers, direct statement of fishing gears at the time of edge (the float line or cork line) and the weights attached operation and the local fishing equipment marketplace. to their lower edge (the footrope or lead line). Catching Data about fishing gears and crafts size and shape, mesh ability depends on the movement or migration of the size of the gear, mode of operation, period of operation, fish through the area where the nets are set. One type of building materials, fish species caught, etc. were collected gill nets was operated in the study area like Illish jal/Chandi jal.

Table 1: Various kinds of net operated for fishing in the Nijhium Dwip Number of people Construction Gear type Local name Mesh size (cm) needs to operate cost (BDT/net) Species caught Gill net Illish jal/Chandi jal 4-4.5 10 to 15 300000-400000 Hilsa, Poa, Air Fixed purse net Behundi jal 5 to 6.5 and 0.5to1.25 12-14 50000-200000 Chewa, Chiring, Koi, Poa, Bata, Gulsha, Bashpata, Boicha etc. Seine net Jogot ber jal 0.5 to 2.3 cm 10 200000 Pangas, Poa Hilsa, Bata, Koi, Air, Kalbasu and all fishes. Cast net Jhaki jal/Khapla jal 0.6to 0.75 cm 1 5000 - 10000 Bata, Koi, Pangas, Poa, Baila, Shol, Taki, Punti, Tengra, Baim and other small fish. Framed/ dip net Thela jal 0.2 to 1.0cm 1 200 - 1000 Koi, Baila, Shol, Taki, Punti, Tengra, Baim etc.

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Illish jal/Chandi Jal: Rectangular in shaped. The length ranges between 0.5 and 2.3 cm. The net is operated from of the net is 650 to 700 m and width is10 to 12 m having a shore and a ship. 10 people run one net. The construction mesh size between 4 and 4.5cm. Polyamide monofilaments, cost of this net, is about 200000 BDT/net. The net polypropylene or nylon rope, are used to construct the operates from both day and night. Fine mesh size Ber jal net although nylon twines are traditionally used for its catch fish irrespective of their size or species. The net is low cost and easy availability. Both floats and sinkers are more costly than other nets. The net catches Pangasius attached to the net. 10 to 15 persons are needed to handle pangasius, Otolithoides pama, Tenualosa ilisha, Labeo this net. The net drifts with the water current, which helps bata, Anabas testudineus, Mystus aor, Labeo calbasu to trap the gill of fish into the mesh. The construction cost and all other fishes. of this net is 300000-400000 BDT having a life span of 3 to 4 years. The net is operated from the boat and generally Cast Net: The net is made up of three parts: the upper used round the year except for the fish-banning period. section (net band), the middle section (a conical shaped No attractive fish device is used. Mainly Tenualosa net mesh and the lower section are the edges of the ilisha, Otolithoides pama is caught by the net (Table 1). pockets are fixed iron weights. Operating area of this net, including , , , , , Patuakhali, Bhola etc. [7]. Jhaki Jal/khapla Jal: The net is a conical shaped mesh. The net is 3 to 6 m lengthy-form anterior component to the Fixed Purse Net: Fixed purse nets are purse-shaped nets posterior give up with mouth diameter having 6 to 12 m. placed in water in motion. These nets are operated in river, The mesh of the net is 0.6to 0.75 cm. The net can be estuaries and foreshore. operated in the tide, ebb-tide and the freshwater also at both day and night. One person can operate the net. Behundi Jal: The net is also locally known as Benti jal, The construction cost of the net is 5000 - 10000 BDT/net. Thor jal. This may be a purse or conical in shape net and The net generally uses round the year. No attractive fish has two extensions. The length is 12 to 15 m and the width device is used. The net catches Labeo bata, Anabas of the mouth of the net is 11 to 12 m. The mesh length at testudineus, Pangasius pangasius, Otolithoides pama, the mouth of the net is 5 to 6.25 cm and at the top of the Glossogobius giuris, Channa striatus, Channa pouch is 0.5 to 1.25 cm. A variety of synthetic twines punctatus, Puntius spp, Mystus vittatus, Mastacembelus such as polyamide, monofilaments, polypropylene, spp and other small fishes. polyvinyl chloride or nylon rope are used to construct the net although nylon twines are traditionally used Framed or Dip Net: These nets are held apart with a for its low cost and easy availability. 12-14 person is triangular bamboo frame and pushed manually. This net needed to operate this net. The net is fixed near the has been operated in the shallow waterbed, beels and shore (distance from 30-60m) with bamboo, wood and floodplains. sometimes iron. Two (mouth) end is spread and set, the centre pouch is used as a trap, the net is fixed on the Thela Jal: A variety of synthetic twines is used to tide, when fish is trapped, then monitor carefully and construct the net although mosquito nets are traditionally after 5-6 hours the net is taken away and collect the fish. used for its easy availability and low cost. The net is The construction cost of this net is 50000-200000BDT triangular with an extended handle. Two bamboo poles, having a life span of 2 to 3 years. The net is operated in all one is longer than other, are fixed at an angle of 30°, the season except ban period. The net catches mainly long point of the bamboo serves as a handle. A small Odontambyoopus rubicundus, Apocryptes bato, Anabas cross bamboo is tied at the posterior end. Its’ two arms testudineus, Otolithoides pama, Labeo bata, Mystus are 2 to 3 m long and rest one is 1 to 1.5 m long having a vittatus etc. mesh size of 0.2 to 1.0 cm. The triangular part of the net is downward and pushed forward along the bed of the Seine Net: The nets are prepared in small pieces, which shallow water areas. The net is employed in the least are joined together at the time of operation. The mesh of time of the year and one person can operate this net. the nets varies with the type of fish to be caught. This net No attractive fish device is used. The construction cost catches all kinds of fishes. of this net is shallow ranges from 200 - 1000 BDT/net. This net catches all small size of fish. The net catches Jagot Ber Jal: Ber jal may be a fine mesh size seine net, Anabas testudineus, Glossogobius giuris, Channa which is commonly used in the estuary. It is enormous, striatus, Channa punctatus, Puntius spp, Mystus vittatus, usually 30 to 200 m long and 7 to 15 m wide. Mesh size Mastacembelus sp etc.

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Hooks and Lines: Hooks and line gears are used in a wide having hooks at the apex. This rod (with hooks) is range of configurations. Hooks are manufactured during tightly tied with the bamboo handle by coconut thread or a selection of size. Therefore the gap between the point iron wire. The fisherman throws the gear to focus on and the shank appears to be the dimension, which species. Fish include Wallago attu, Channa striatus, determines the dimensions range of fish caught by a Channa punctatus, Glossogobius giuris and other particular hook. The most familiar sort of manufactured fish species. steel hook is “J’’ shaped, which is usually used for hook and line fishing. The main attempt is to render the fish Fishing Crafts: Different types of fishing crafts like kosha incapable of swimming. Steel made hooks with lines are boat, dingi boat and trawler were dominantly used for fish considered among them. Only one type of hooks and lines capture. Ahmed [7] and Hussain [8] described the use of were found in the study area. traditional crafts. The fisherman uses different types of fishing craft having a different length, width, height, Sip or Barshi: Sip or Barshi may be an elementary barbed shape and size in the Nijhium Dwip. The rural carpenters, hook tied with one end of a line and therefore the other according to their plan with planks, build the crafts end with a bamboo stick. Above the hook, there is a traditionally. Fishers use woods, bamboos and irons to float that would exist on the subsurface of water level. make their boats, which is furnished by coal tar and The float may either sink or drift, which also determines if burned oil. It is difficult to classify the crafts according to the fish is baited or not. Bait could be earth warm and net used because fisherman used an equivalent boat for small prawn. Fish species caught by means of this kind of operating different net. Most of the fishing boats are gear are Labeo calbasu, Anabas testudineus, mechanized. The size of the mechanical engine depends Heteropneustes fossilis, Puntius spp., Mystus vittatus and on the size and types of boat. In the study area, two types some carp species. of fishing crafts were used for fishing in the Nijhium Dwip viz. Chandi nouka and ChootoTrawler. Traps: Fishing traps are more often than not bamboo and timber made mechanical devices applied in shallow water Chandi Nauka: A traditional fishing boat. The ends are with the aid of each professional and non-expert slightly pointed. Length varies from 8-12m, a beam from fishermen. It could be very tough to categorise the traps 1-3m and the depth from 75-125 cm. The backside of because an equivalent the same device has different the boat is flat. The stem is between forty and a hundred names in several districts. One sort of Traps was found and fifty cm. The boat has a Japanese 36Hp engine. within the study area. The number of crews is 15. It is used in the deep sea from the shore. A steerage paddle, much like that of a regular Polo: Polo may be a bell-shaped fishing trap made from oar is constant on the rear of the boat. The hood is bamboo splits. The bottom part of this gear is cylindrical situated within the central a part of the boat. The sail is and the upper portion is conical which is tied with often absent, but when present it may be a rectangular or bamboo rings. The height of this gear is 55-75cm and square-shaped and placed at the front. Construction diameter is 40-50cm. During fishing, angler passes the materials are wooden and bamboo mainly chapalish, bottom part of this trap to the mud bottom in shallow telshur, mehe guni, rendi karai, kali korai planks. water to trap fish and fisher search the trapped fish The construction cost of this boat 400000-500000 BDT. by putting his hand into the opening of the trap. Fishing time ten days. 50 block Ice is used per trip. The dominant fish species caught were Channa Carrying capacity 1-12 (MT). The boat is extensively used punctatus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Clarias gariepinus, for Hilsa fishing. Mastacembelus armatus etc. Chooto Trawler: It is an entirely mechanized boat which Fishing Spears: Spearfishing is an ancient method of may be either kosha or dingi nouka. The construction cost fishing. Spears are the fishing devices, which are wont to of this boat is 50000-80000 BDT. The length of this boat catch fish by throwing or wounding fishes. One type of is 2 to 3 m and therefore the width is 0.5 to 1 m and height spears was found in the study area. is 0.5m. The form of the bottom is either flat or rounded. Usually, 2 to 3 fishermen are engaged for fishing by using Teta: Teta may be a wounding gear made from an this sort of boat. It is used in the River and coastal area extended bamboo handle about 2 to 3 m long and for fishing. Fishing time three days. 12-1200 Hp engine is some other iron hooks with an iron rod at the bottom. used for its operation. Most of the nets are employed by The length of an iron rod is about 60 to sixty-five cm this boat.

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CONCLUSION REFERENCES

Nijhum Dwip is more important for geographical 1. DoF, 2017. Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics of location and vast fish diversity. For that, different types Bangladesh 2016-17. Fisheries Resources Survey of fishing gears and crafts have been used to conduct System (FRSS), Department of Fisheries. fishing activities in the Nijhum Dwip. However, the Bangladesh?: Director General, DoF., 34: 129. utilization of fishing gears that catch fish regardless of 2. Moula, G., Y. Mahmud, M. Alam and M. Hossain, their size or species will destroy the habitat of the wild 1993. Fishing crafts and gears of . species. Therefore, the selectivity of fishing gear also Progress. Agric., pp: 59-65. helps to protect the target species that will reduce the loss 3. Das, B. and A. Banarjii, 2000 Matshya sangrah of our biodiversity. Most of the fisherman are poor and projukti (Fish Harvesting Technology), Vol. ll. the majority of the crafts have no license or insurance. Bangla Academy, 1000, Bangladesh. They do not get any governmental help; they have to 4. Banglapedia, 2015 Fishing Gear, National lease money from the property owner, NGOs, to make the Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Asiatic Society of fishing gears and crafts and bound to maintain the Bangladesh, Dhaka. property owners rules. Moreover, robbing is now a day 5. Chakrobarty, S., M. Hossain and M. Hoq, 1995. to become a common phenomenon. Therefore, the Traditional inland fishing methods in Bangladesh. J. fishermen suffer most still there is no solution for the Asicatic Soc. Bangladesh Sci., pp: 19-27. robbing activity. Generally, fishing nets and crafts are 6. Hameed, M. and M. Boophendronath, 2000. Modern robbed but sometimes robbed the entire catch with nets Fishing Gear Tchnology. Das Publishing House, and crafts. The fishermen are helpless. Majority of the Dellhi. boats have no licenses, which reflects a lack of awareness 7. Ahmed, N., 1971. Government of East Pakistan and law enforcement by the responsible authority. So the Directories of Fisheries: Fishing Gear of East government must be taken necessary steps to solve this Pakistan. East Pakistan Fishery Department, East problem by the relevant authority. After all, the main Pakistan. objective of responsible fishing is to maximizing economic 8. Hussain, M., 1977. Design of two standard steel returns to the fisherman without affecting the long time body fishing crafts for all seasons operation in the sustainability of the fishery resources and with minimum Bay of Bengal. National Marine Fisheries Seminar, impact on the ecosystem. Chittagong, Bangladesh.

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