Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 12 (1), January 2013, pp. 144-148

Traditional fishing crafts and gears used by the Nicobari tribes in

S K Zamir Ahmed1, T Ravikumar2, P Krishnan1* & S Jeyakumar1 1Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), Port Blair – 744 101 2Krishi Vigyan Kendra-CARI, Car Nicobar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, E-mail: [email protected] Received 13.12.11, revised 20.07.12

The Nicobari tribes are the predominant tribes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, whose livelihood options are based on plantation crops and fishing. The study was conducted to review the traditional fishing practices of the Nicobari tribes in Car Nicobar, the capital of and to document their Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) with respect to the fishing crafts and gears. Data were collected through different participatory research tools like key informant survey, group discussion, semi-structured interview schedule, personal observation and also from secondary sources. The investigation showed that Hodi, an outrigger dugout canoe is the traditional fishing craft commonly used by the Nicobarese and the traditional fishing gears used by them include spears, hook and line, trolling line and bow and arrow. It was observed that these tribes also use a few modern fishing gears. The study elucidates the design and operation of the traditional fishing crafts and gears used by Nicobarese and also the traditional practice of stupefying the fishes with an indigenous plant extract.

Keywords: Nicobari tribes, Fishing crafts, Fishing gears, ITK IPC Int. Cl.8: A01K 61/00, A01K 69/00, A01K 74/00, A01K 75/00, A01K 79/00

Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI), having an fishers6. The study of ITK is a gateway to learn their aggregate coastline of 1,962 km, are located in the native life style, which may be technical, social, south east of Bay of Bengal in the form of a chain. organizational or cultural. The design and choice of They account for 30% of India’s Exclusive Economic fishing crafts and gear depend on the topography, Zone and occupy an area of 8,293 km2. Nicobar is one ecology and habitat of the resource available. of the three administrative districts of the Union Traditional crafts and gears in vogue among the tribes Territory (UT) of ANI, comprising of 22 islands, of in North India7,8 and along the West and East coast of which 10 are inhabited by two aboriginal tribes viz, India9 have been well documented. Fishing is the Nicobarese and Shompens. The Nicobarese, who major livelihood opportunity for the Nicobarese and constitute over 97% of the total tribal population of fish a major source of protein for them, thus ANI, live in 156 tribal villages of Nicobar group1,2. accounting for their nutritional security. The technical The tribes have acquired knowledge and gained aspects of the crafts and gears of the Nicobarese have skills to maintain their sustainable existence3 and to not been documented comprehensively and the protect landscapes, ecosystems and species current study aims at bridging this gap. traditionally with the course of development4. Indigenous traditional knowledge (ITK) is the Methodology community-based knowledge which is passed by An exploratory study was conducted during 2010- generations over many centuries. The important 11 in Car Nicobar Island, the capital of Nicobar material which are connected with the ITK are the district, stretching between 9o00’ and 9o20’N latitude traditional seed, medicines and pesticide collected and 92o30’ and 92o50’ E longitude. The island, from the plants and animals, the tools used in 5 exclusively inhabited by Nicobarese, has a total livelihood such as crafts and gears in fishing . The population of 20,292, who live as a joint family called saying- necessity is the mother of invention is well tuhet. Each tuhet includes many families and is lead reflected in fishing crafts and gears invented by the by a tuhet head man. The Marine Fishing Regulation ______Act (2009) of the Union Territory recognizes all the *Corresponding author Nicobarese as fishermen. These tribes in Car Nicobar AHMED et al.: TRADITIONAL FISHING CRAFTS AND GEARS USED BY THE NICOBARI TRIBES IN CAR NICOBAR 145

possess a total of 79 traditional crafts (Hodi) and 14 Hodi/Outrigger dugout canoe motorized fishing boats. The traditional boat of this island is locally called

Detailed information about the fishing crafts and as ‘hodi’, which is an outrigger dug-out canoe by gears used by the Nicobari tribes was collected from design. The hodi is made out of jack fruit tree 52 fishers inhabiting in 12 different villages of Car (Atrocapus heterophyllus) locally called as To-kavo- Nicobar viz., Perka (headquarters), Malacca, ka (Fig. 2a). A single wooden log is used for , Kenyuka, Chuckchucha, Big Lapathy, constructing this type of craft. The length and width Small Lapathy, , Mus, Sawai, Tee Top and of the tree is selected based on the required size of the Sawai (Fig. 1) through different participatory research hodi and desired number of crew members to be tools like key informant survey, group discussion, accommodated. The length of these hodis usually semi-structured interview schedule and personal varies from 3 to 9 m, breadth 0.30 to 1.0 m and depth observation. (Figs 2-7). The Prior Information from 0.40 to 1.0 m. The tree with slight bend in the Content was taken from the tribal council secretary trunk is traditionally recognized as ideal for and from each of the fishers who provided the construction of the hodi. The stages of construction information individually. and the final hodi are depicted in Fig. 2. The bark and skin of the trunk is shaved to facilitate maximum exposure to sun and air which is then dried for a Results period from one week to a month before shaping into Fishing crafts of Nicobarese hodi. The trunk is scooped with axes (Fig. 2b) of The traditional fishing boat of Car Nicobar, Hodi is different sizes (Titiloinyo) to make the dugout canoe. operated in the near shore waters. These boats cannot Once the shape is attained, it is fired using dried be operated in the high seas due to small size, lack of coconut leaves from the top, bottom, inside and mechanization and sophisticated equipments and poor outside of the canoe in order to reduce moisture, make endurance, stability and storing capacity. They are the hodi stronger, harder and lighter (Fig. 2c). Firing propelled by means of oar and outriggers which are also aids to check insects and borers attack. Then, slender poles secured at their inner ends by being cross woods are fixed for widening the mouth of the passed through the holes on the sides of dugout canoe canoe (Fig. 2d). Slight firing at this stage increases the close to the edge. The main purpose of the outrigger is opening of the canoe and facilitates proper fixing of to give buoyancy to the craft. the cross wood. After reshaping, bamboo poles are fixed along either sides of the canoe (Fig. 2e) to which the cross planks are tied to form the deck of the canoe. Finally wooden outriggers with stalks are fixed in the hodi to increase the buoyancy and stability in sea. Arecanut (Tisa-a) tree trunk is generally used as outrigger (Tamreh). Finally the hodi is taken into the intertidal area of the sea for testing of water leakage and adjustment of the outriggers for better stability and buoyancy (Fig. 2f). A tribal fisher of this island has coated his hodi with Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) along with liquid chemicals in specific proportion so as to increase its life span, enhance rot resistance and reduce cost of maintenance (Fig. 3). However, this modification has not been adopted by any other member of the tribal community.

Fishing gears of Nicobarese The traditional fishing gears employed by the tribal fishers include spears, harpoon, bow and arrow, hook

and line and trolling line. In addition, gill net, cast net Fig. 1Map of the study area: Car Nicobar Island and its villages and long lines are also used by the tribes. The use of 146 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 12, No. 1, JANUARY 2013

shore seines has been discontinued post-tsunami as and red colour cloths, cart boards, hermit crab and dead and broken corals washed ashore along the coast fishes are also used as lures. The troll lines are line hinder their operation. operated in different depths by the tribes. This method is mainly employed to catch the fast swimming Linrech/Chok (Spears) pelagic carnivorous fishes like seer fish, tuna, Spearing is a primitive traditional fishing method barracuda, caranx/travelly and mackerals. still popular among the Nicobarese for catching fishes (Fig. 4a). The spears are made up of wood (bamboo) Bow and Arrow with metal (iron) and metal (iron) with a single Bow and arrows generally used by the tribes are pointed barbed end (Fig. 4b). The length of spears made up of bamboo and are operated in shallow and varies from 2 to 6 feet and they are made of a single calm waters to catch the slow moving fishes. The or two detachable parts. The Nicobarese attach a arrow pierces the flesh of the prey when shot from the rubber string to the spear which is used to power the bow. This age old practice is getting obsolete and not spear (Fig. 4c). Spears are usually operated during being followed commonly at present among the calm season and low tides in shallow near shore tribes. waters with a few meters depth where fishes are Use of Icthyotoxic agent known to aggregate. The target fish is aimed at and The seeds of an indigenous plant, Kinyav the rubber string is released on which the spear (Barringtonia asiatica) (Fig. 7a) is used as fish pierces the fish. Octopus and bigger fishes like tuna, stupefying agent. The seeds are dried and cut open barracuda, travelly/caranx, seer fishes, grouper and and then rubbed against the spiny surface of the stump sharks are caught by this method. Spear fishing of the indigenous tree kunial (Fig. 7 b-e). The seed demands precision and experience as with the tribes shavings are directly sprayed over the sea water of these islands and the same is passed across the during the low tide in shallow and calm areas. Some generations over time. of the tribes mix the seed shavings with wheat flour or Hand lines any dust so as to make the water turbid. This method Hand line is one of the most popular fishing is used to catch small and slows moving fishes. methods of the tribes. It consists of 3 to 20 m long Apart from the traditional fishing gears, the tribes monofilament line having one or more barbed hooks have also adopted the modern fishing gears like gill (Fig. 6a) of size ranging between 1 and 20. The net (Inhal), cast net (Kinval) and shore seine net Nicobarese use the thin steel rods for making their (Hanak inhal kak). The use of shore seines has been own hooks of different sizes. Some tribes use a reel abandoned post-tsunami due to settlement of coral and weight made of dead corals, stones or lead. debris along the coasts where they were operated till Weights are not used when the gear is operated from tsunami. The tribes are known to indigenize every the shore or jetty. Artificial bait (Fig. 6b), live possible aspect of the modern fishing gears based on earthworm or dead baits viz., fish, squid, cuttle fish their need and local requirements. The cast net used flesh, hermit crab flesh, etc (Fig. 6c) are commonly by the Nicobarese in Car Nicobar are without closing used for attracting the fishes. While operation, one string but with pockets all along the bottom margin of end of the line is held in hand and the hook with bait the net which are used for holding the fish. The tribes is allowed in the water (Fig. 6d). The sudden jerk felt make the sinkers (purum) for the cast net on their own on the line indicates that the fish has been caught. by melting damaged lead sinkers of various sizes at high temperature and pouring into the iron mould of Trolling line (Inruon thakuaha) the required shape (Fig. 5 a-d). Trolling is a very common fishing method among the tribes. It consists of 2-4 m long movable fishing Navigational practices of Nicobari tribes lines, which are towed from the outrigger pole from The Nicobarese navigate into sea mainly based on behind or side of the hodi. Live, dead or artificial the wind direction, light house, light of the houses baits are used for attracting the fishes. The lines located in the island and trees for locating their attached in the outrigger vary with the boat/hodi. fishing grounds. They find the time at sea based on Imported plastic lures or locally made lures, which are the position of sun, moon, morning star (sanim generally bright red in colour and can rotate in their peuheu) and evening star (sanim piuoi). During own axis as the boat moves are used. Chicken feathers the peak fishing period from November to April, the AHMED et al.: TRADITIONAL FISHING CRAFTS AND GEARS USED BY THE NICOBARI TRIBES IN CAR NICOBAR 147

Fig. 2-7(2a) Hodi construction. The tree used for construction Trunk scooped with axe; (2b) smoking the wood; (2c) fixing of cross woods and deck plank; (2d) Insertion of bamboo support on deck; (2e) Hodi in sea; (2f) Hodi coated with FRP; (4a) A Nicobari tribe holding a spear; (4b) Barbed end of the spear; (4c) A tribe snorkeling with the spear; (5a) Making lead sinkers. Melting the lead sinkers; (5b) Molten lead being poured into the mould; (5c) Removing sinker; (5d) A lead sinker made by the tribes; (6a) Barbed hooks used in the hook and line; (6b) artificial bait; (6c) live bait; (6d) tribes operating the hook and line from the jetty; (7a) The Kinyav tree; (7b) fruit; (7c) seed inside the fruit; (7d) seed cut open and (7e) making seed powder 148 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL. 12, No. 1, JANUARY 2013

tradiotional tribal fishers venture upto a maximum beds12 and hence there is a need to preserve and distance of 6 nmi while in the lean season they fish in promote such practices prevalent among the the near shore area. The Nicobarese plan their fishing indigenous tribes in one of the remotest localities of based on the tides and waves. They do not venture our vast country. into sea during the first seven days after full moon and new moon day as the wave height during that Acknowledgement peiod will be more thus rendering the operation of the The authors thank the Director, CARI, Port Blair outrigger canoe (Hodi) unsafe. for facilitating the study. Thanks are due to the tribal fishers of Car Nicobar who willingly provided the Discussion details of the crafts and gears used by them. The Indigenous technical knowledge plays an important assistance rendered by Dr. Zachariah George and role in every tribal culture, which has a set of ideas Mr. Ajai Kumar Pandey of KVK, Nicobar in data for defining issues for their betterment. Their collection is gratefully acknowledged. The authors knowledge in fishing methods, vessel design, also thank Dr. Murugan, Botanical Survey of India, propulsion and processing has been effectively used Port Blair for assisting in identification of the trees to overcome specific localized problems and to enable reported in this study. the use of local resources in sustainable way. The design and operation of the fishing crafts and gears References used by the Nicobarese are different from that of 1 Boden Kloss C, Andamans and Nicobars, (Vivek Publishing other tribes in Andaman. The Andamanese use small House, Jaipur), 1971, 373. 2 Anonymous, Enumeration of primitive tribes in A&N Islands- dugouts with an outrigger, while the Nicobarese use A challenge, Drop-in-article: Census of India-No.6, (2011), 4. outriggers which are better built, more elegant in form 3 Chauhan N, Padalia H, Gupta S, Porwal MC & Roy PS, and never possess more than two booms. The dugouts Nicobari tribe of the Car Nicobar Island: Keping in pace with with outriggers used by the Shompens greatly time, J Hum Ecol, 16(3) (2004) 155-161. resemble that of Nicobarese, but are smaller in size 4 Kothari A & Bhatt S, Protected areas in India: Proposal for than other tribal canoes. The Jarawas neither make an expanded system of categories. (Kalpavriksh, Pune), 1998, 23. nor use dugouts canoes or outriggers; instead they use 5 Sethi SN, Sundaray JK, Panigrahi A & Chand S, Prediction 10 a raft made of bamboo or tree trunks . and management of natural disasters through indigenous Technical knowledge, with special reference to fisheries, Conclusion Indian J Traditi Knowle, 10 (1) (2011) 167-172. The mainstay of livelihood for the nicobari tribes is 6 Mitra PM, Ghosh KK, Saigal BN, Sarkar ND, Roy AK, plantation crops and fishing. Fishing in open sea Mondal NC & Paul AR, Fishing gear of the upper and middle Hooghly estuary, Bull No 49, (CIFRI, Barrackpore, Kolkata), demands specific skills and the Nicobarese have 1987, 22. acquired them from their ancestors. They deem their 7 Manna Ranjan K, Das Archan K, Krishna Rao DS, expertise as an indispensable treasure for their Karthikeyan M & Singh DN, Fishing crafts and gear in river sustainable existence. The dissemination of Krishna, Indian J Traditi Knowle, 10 (3) (2011) 491-497. knowledge and development of recent times have 8 Hornell J, The fishing methods of the Ganges, Mem Asiat Soc Bengal, 8 (1929) 201. enabled indigenous people to adapt to introduced 9 Ramamurthy & Muthu, Bull No 14, (CMFRI, Kochi), 1969, societies, cultures and technologies and the economic 235. consequences are shrinkage of tribal habitat and over 10 Sivakumar R & Rajamanickam GV, Oceanographic exploitation of natural resources11. Education and knowledge among tribes of Andaman and Nicobar islands. In development has not dithered the Nicobarese from Maritime Heritage of India (Ed.) K. S. Bahera. (Aryan Books International, New Delhi), 1999, 143-154. conserving their inherited wisdom and indigenous 11 Morphy H, “Now you understand”: An analysis of the way knowledge. The very fact that these aboriginal tribes Yolngu has used sacred knowledge to retain their autonomy. still practice most of their traditional fishing methods In: W. Peters and M. Langton (Eds.): Aborigines, Land and is a testimony to the value of the treasure which has Landrights. (Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, not lost their relevance over time. The ancient system Canberra), 1983. 12 Rathakrishnan T, Ramasubramanium M, Anandaraja N, of fishing using traditional devices is a sustainable Suganthi N & Anitha S, Traditional fishing practices followed method of harvesting fish without damaging the by fisherfolks of Tamilnadu, Indian J of Tradit Knowle, 8(4) environment of corals, mangroves, wetlands, seagrass (2009) 543-547.