BAY OF BENGAL

A PUBLICATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 1981 BAY OF BENGAL PROGRAMME Good News from Uppada

“Uppada” sounds like an Andhra college, an apparently successful co- • Programme, which istrying to raise the Pradesh delicacy. It is actuallya fishing operative society, andtwo movie theatres incomes of traditional fisherfolk and is village 35 km from Kakinada in north whose ownershappento be fishermen. testing the viability of these craft (See Andhia Piadesh. Some 10,000 people The few goldsmiths of Uppada dobrisk Bay ofBengal NewsJanuary 1981,for

live here — more than5,000fishermen, business : when fishing is good the a story on BOBP’s beachcmft project several hundred weavers, some Burmese fishermen buy ornaments for their for Tamil NaduandAndhra Pradesh). expatriates. It is one of the “sirongholds” womenfolk. Labelled IND-13byBOBP,these boats of the nava, the traditional Andhra are about 23 feet long, built of marine country craft. Every day, save Wednes- Uppada isa close-knit villageand during plywood andare equipped with 5 H.P. day, several hundred navas and kattu- the past year its residents have had inboard motors. Uppada ves selected maramslake off from the Uppada beach something special to talk about three by the fisheries department of Andhra and return next morning : their catch orange-coloured motorised beach boats, Pradesh for trying out the FAO boats knownas FAO 1,2and 3, which bring could be seerfish, pomfret, hilsa, shark, becauseit facilities facilitates comparisonbetween in very good catches: tuna, prawns, mackerel or cat fish. them and the local navas. As fishing villages go, Uppada is fairly The “FAO beachboats” have been de- well organised. It has a school and a signed and built by the Bay of Bengal (Continued on page 6) BOBP’s IND-13 boat crosses the surf at Uppada in Andhra Pradesh, India. The IND-13 has performed better than the Tuticorin on India’s southeast coast winch) and better rigging of trawls — have yielded encouraging results. always conjures up fisheries images. (locally manufactured cod end clips The fish-cum-shrimp trawl has been Sails flutter, motors buzz and craft dot and split links). found to catch more quality fish and of, the waterscape as far as the eye can One or more Tuticorin fishermentried higher market value than the con- see : several hundred vallams and out each of these innovations, with ventional shrimp bawl and nearly the mechanised boats. practical demonstration and advice same amount of largeshrimp. From 1976, more and more shrimp- beingprovidedby BOBPBOBP fishingtechno- While BOBP has made no formal hunting mechanised boats have been logist G. Pajot, and counterparts extension effort in Tuticorin, it has operating in Tuticorin,thanks to foreign S.Pandurangan and P.V.Ramamurthy. responded to specific requests from fishermenfortechnological assistance. demand forshrimp. Recently, however, Some details of BOBP’s experiments in these boats have hitbad times: shrimp Tuticorin: For instance, three fish-cum-shrimp catcheshave fallen, operating costs have bawls were constructed and rigged by * One unit of a high-opening fish trawl— risen. Result: losses for boat-owners, BOBP and handed over to private crew without jobs. which was meant to capture large fishermen attheir request Fishing tnals quantities of food fish during the non- will be continued and monitored by The BOBP hasbeen active in Tuticonn shrimp season — was offeredto fisher- BOBP’s counterpart officer, Mr. Pandu- from late 1980, trying out some new man-boat owner Comen George in rangan. gearsand deviceswith the consentand November 1980. He used it for four cooperation of the Tamil Nadu govern- months (November 20 to March 31 Seven more fishermen-boat owners ment. The main thrust of BOBP’s 1981) and caught 70.1 tonnes of fish from Tuticorin have requested BOBP to provide them with shrimp-cum fish experimental work hasbeen to reduce valued atRs. 1.01 lakhs. bawls. With the concurrence of Tamil the present heavy dependence on The performance of ComenGeorge’s shrimp, boost the catch of food fish, Nadu’s Departmentof Fisheries,BOBP high-opening bottom trawl induced is therefore arranging for an experi- and improve the incomes of fishermen several other fishermen to fabricate in the area. enced net-rigger from Madras to visit similar bawls on their own initiative. At Tuticorin and construct and rig the Newgears and devicestried out by the one time (March 1981) approximately bawls forthem.He will train the crew of BOBP in Tuticonn include the high- 30 pairs ofboats were deploying various Tuticorin fishermen, andalso othernet- opening fish trawl (with one boat and versions of the high-opening bottom riggers in Tuticorin on constructing the two boats); the one-boat high-opening trawl. bawls. If thispractice proves effective, it fish-cum-shrimp trawl; mechanisation * Fishing trials with one-boat fish-cum- will be repeated for other BOBP trawl

of gear handling (gantry, net drum, shrimp bawls — which are meant for designs. three-drum winch and tillable drum use during the lean shrimp season (continued on page 18)

2 BAY OF BENGAL NEWS This is the third issue of Bay of Bengal News. When starting technology development and increase of fishing effort the venture we were equally prepared for smiles and were considered entirely justifiable. Today however, there scowls, compliments and strictures. We need not have are many situations, and not only in developed countries, worried - nearly everyone has been generous. We feel where increased fishing effort could trigger off undesirable that the newsletter is meeting its primary objectives of effects. promoting small-scale fisheries development and providing Technological change is essential for the development information about BOBP activities. process. But it should perhaps be encouraged more However, there have been murmurs of dissent, not least selectively and should certainlybe accompanied by manage- within the BOBP itself. The newsletter is said to emphasize ment measures to dilute any baneful impact and to ensure achievement, soft-pedal problems and ignore failure. On that established economic and social goals are met. rereading Bay of Bengal News, I didn’t come across any It takes a long time for suitable management schemes to ewggemted claim or any burst of self-adulation, but I do be established and implemented, particularly so with regard admit that the small-scale fisheries sector in the Bay of to small-scale fisheries in developing countries. The sooner, Bengal region and the BOBP itself encounter a multitude and the oftener, people from different disciplines - of problems not yet reflected in the newsletter. Problems, technologists, sociologists, economists, planners - get frustrations and failures may offer lessons that guide future frequently together to establish close links, the quicker will development and in succeeding issues we will attempt to solutions be found. describe and analyse some of the problems. The current issue of Bay of Bengal News focusses in a I commend to your attention the story on page 2 about modest way on Tamil Nadu, our “home state” in India. BOBP’s popular experiments in Tuticonn. The purpose of There is an interesting factual article about kattumamms. our trawling project was to explore the possiblities of Tamil Nadu has other types of indigenous fishing craft but diversifying the fishing effort of India’s small-scale trawlers these log rafts, of which there are some 30,000, are to produce more “food fish” and reduce the pressure on certainly the most remarkable. On pages 12-13 we en- declining shrimp stocks. After more than a year of intensive counter Pichai, a kattumamm fisherman. His work, ethos fishing trials, employing light high-opening trawls towed by and lifestyle as also his earthy wisdom, are vividly portrayed a single boat or a pair, the results clearly indicate that by journalist Arthur Pais. Another journalist, Sabita Shetty, diversification is viable and more economic than existing gives us cameos of some fisherwomen whom she met at commercial operations. During the experiments, a better various fishing centres. deck layout and equipment were also introduced; these Our lead stoy of this issue is devoted to BOBP’s beachcraft have made the fishing operations even more rewarding development project which has made good progress since and comfortable for the fishermen. Judging by the Bay of Bengal News first introduced it to readers (January spontaneous response from Tuticorin fishermen, the project 1981). could to all intents and purposes be considered a successful effort in technology development, fulfilling all expectations. The first book to be reviewed by Bay of Bengal News is a sociological study on Sri Lankan fisheries. It will, 1 hope, Nevertheless, we are recording these experiments with stimulate thinking and serious reading of the book. Oyvind serious concern about future development While improved Gulbmndsen’s essay on the return-to-sail concept is a technology may better the status of fishermen working thoughtful piece. His opinion is couched in so courteous with the 32-foot trawler fleet, boost food fish supplies and an idiom that one may feel disinclined to contest his views. ease the pressure on shrimp stocks, it may adversely affect But on the subject of sails and motorisation there are many the productivity and thereby the living conditions of many differing views and Bay of Bengal News will be glad to hear more fisherfolk employed in the ttaditional (non-mechanised) those of its readers. - Lars O.Engvall fishe y. This may lead to further conflicts between the sub- sectorsand that certainly is in everyone’s interest to prevent. The Tuticotin project underlines the need for more thinking about ways and means for fisheries management. In earlier times, when the resources were far from heavily utilised, “is that they have rather large sailing rigs to perform well in a good breeze. We are at the moment experimenting with different rigs to find the best alter- native.” To sum up : BOBP’s drive for better fishingcraft inthe region is maintaining its momentum. CoastalAquaculture: testingand introduction by consultant Mission Bangladesh Beachcraft Trials : India andSri Lanka Oyvind Gulbrandsen nowdue to arrive The BOBP is assisting in establishing a from Norway. Our lead story (see page 1 and pages Tamil Nadu : Three boats are being shrimp culture demonstration farm at 6-7) discusses BOBP’s fishing trials at built by BOBP at the Royapuram yard Satkhira inthe Khulna District of Bangla- desh.The farm is meant todemonstrate Uppada in Andhra Pradesh, and the of the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Develop- improved technologyto fish farmers in positive performance of IND 13, built ment Corporation — two IND 11s (23 for that state. Meanwhile, other types ft self-draining polystyrene-block boats the area. The demonsbation farm will consist of of boats are being built and tested by successfully surf-tested in May 1980), a seed-catch basin, two experimental BOBP for Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Sri and the interesting new IND-15 (a21 ft ponds, and a 40-acre growth pond. Lanka. Ausbalian surf expert Geoff rowing-and-sailing boat designed as a Gowing visited the region for three The farmwill establish optimum culture kattumaram alternative). parameters and betterculture techniques, weeks May-June to conduct surf trials; Talking about IND 15, BOBP’s Ravi- such as water filtration to exclude he is again here in September — two kumar says : “It has been based on the predators; efficient seed collection and weeks in Colombo, two weeks in IND 11 principle — timber framework Madras. with buoyancyprovided by polystyrene bansferto growth ponds; andmethods of population sampling for prediction The current status of boatbuilding and foam — but it is somewhat similar to of growth and harvest. testing of BOBP craft is as follows: theAndhra Pradesh boat kattumaram, Kerala : Two boats were built at Roya- the teppa. After landing it can be split Satkhira was identified as the most puram yard in Madras; the IND-17, a into two halves, each of which can be suitable location for a pilot project in 25 ft. rowing and sailing gillnetter, and separately taken ashore. An Andhra shrimp culture by a two-man BOBP the IND-18, a 28 ft sail-cum-engine Pradesh teppa is also being brought to mission — Mr. J.G. Broom, aquaculture gillnetter. Both boats were provided Madras around Septemberto takepart consultant, and Dr. M. Karim, fisheries with Gunter rigs and they performed in comparative trials with IND 15.” adviser. The mission met senior Bangla- desh fisheries officials and made a six- well under sail.The IND-18 was success- Crew for these boats — four each for fully surf-tested at the Marina. Inciden- the two IND 11sand three for IND 15 week reconnaissance survey of a few selected locations in Cox’s Bazar and tally, the IND-18 is a stretched out — will be given pre-test training by Satkhira sub-divisions during April-May version of the IND-13 fitted with the Gowing when he arrives from Sri same 5 HP diesel engine. Lanka this month (September 1981). before opting for the Satkhira site. IND-17 and IND-18 have been des- An Inspector of Fisheries from the Satkhira consists of delta land mostly patched to Kerala, where they await Department of Fisheries, TamilNadu, used for paddy cultureinthe wetseason bained in operatingboats through surf and for shrimp cultureinthe dry season. SRL 11, BOBP’s beachcraft for Sri An estimated 6,500 acres of land in Lanka, rides a bullock cart in Madras will oversee commercial fishingtrials of these boats forone full fishing season. Satkhira are currently used for shrimp before taking a ship to Colombo. Sri Lanka : SRL 11, a 26 ft. sail-cum- culture. engine gillnetter for Sri Lankawas surf- One of Satkhira’s plus points is the tested in Madras in May 1981. Two Sri large number of shrimp farms already Lankan fishermen came to Madrasto operating — which will enable specialists take a lookat the craft. They operated from the pilot projecttotackleproblems the boat (which is equipped with 12 hp these farms face; another plus point is engine) effectively on their own, both the great difference in land elevation for surf-crossing and beachlanding.The and tidal range — which will allow an SRL 11 hasbeen shippedtoColombo, almost unlimited exchangeof waterwith and is to take part in experimental high shrimp-carrying capacity. fishing off Negombo very soon. After Bangladesh officials concurred Two SRL 12 boats, longer versions (28 with the mission’s choice of Satkhira ft) of SRL 11, are also being built in for locating thepilot project, the mission Royapuram. They are to be used for returned there for site selection and experimental fishing using such project preparation. methods as pair bawling, ringnets and Talking about the project’saction plan, gillnets far offshore. “A common Dr. Karim said: “The pilot project is characteristic of all these boats,” says located on private land. This will soon BOBP fisheries engineer Arild Overa, be acquired by the Bangladesh govern-

4 BAY OF BENGAL NEWS science and fisheries absbacts, marine science contents tables and freshwater and aquaculture contents tables. The current bibliographies of FAO docu- mentation should prove useful to scholars and field staff alike. Statisticians might like to consult such material as the Landing Place Survey, Department of Fisheries, Thailand; or the Statisticsof Marine Products Exports, published by MPEDA, Cochin, Inaia. Conference proceedings arrive from far and near. BOBP subscribes tosome 25 corejournals in fishery science, such asAquacultureDigestandFishing News International. Institutions such as ICLARM, SEAFDEC and Torry Re- search Station send their publications Dr. J. Broom, BOBP consultantfor a shrimp culture project in Bangladesh, goes inexchangefor BOBP’s.There are also out on a reconnaissance survey, accompanied by Bangladesh officials. books and papers on socio-economic subjects relating particularly to com- ment. The BOBP will engage a tnaster munity development, women indevelop- fish-fannerand procure essential equip- Documentation Service. ment, extension training and appropriate ment. Implementation of the project is technology. expected to begin in November.” Research-minded fisheriesexpertsmay In connection with the project, three like todrop inat BOBP’ssmall but well- A few 35 mm FAO film strips are Bangladesh fisheriesofficers will undergo equipped libraryinMadras, which stocks available at BOBP. They relate topurse- training in coastal aquaculture for about reports, technical papers, slides and films. seine fishing, shrimp bawling, lampara three months in India at Kakinada The library also functions as meeting net fishing, quality control, fishing and Cochin. room and as slide auditorium, and is grounds etc. There are also slides and run by Ms. V. Bhavani,documentalist. black and white photographs of BOBP Coastal Aquaculture: activitiesandofsmall-scale scale fisheries in Mission Andhra Pradesh. FAO fisheries publications available at the BOBP libraryinclude reports, chtulars, general. Early this year,athree-member mission synopses and fishing manuals. Several Documentation lists havebeen prepared from Indonesiavisited Andhra Pradesh of the fisheriescommissions are repre- for “stock assessment”, “women and for four weeks to advise the state on sented here, though there’s a natural development” and “fish aggregation coastal aquaculture development. emphasis on the Bay of Bengal region. devices.” A directory of fishery insti- The mission’s briefwas to review present There’s such esoteric stuff as aquatic tutions inthe region is beingprepared. activities in shrimp and fish cultureand recommend improvements and further development; identify a location for setting up a pilotprojectfor demonstra- tion of shrimp culture; and outline the requirements for setting up and oper- ating the pilot project. The mission visited Hyderabad and brackishwater sites in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam and October 16, 1981 is to be observed as sbations, seminars and essaycompeti- Guntur. The mission members were World Food Day in accordance with tions, and issue of stamps, coins and officers of the Indonesian Directorate the decision taken by the 20th FAO medals. The press, radio and television General of Fisheries. The team was conference held in Rome in 1979. To of several countries will focuson World headed by Soleh Samsi, head of the quote FAO Director General Edouard Food Day through newspapers, supple- aquaculture section,and included Sihar Saouma, World Food Day provides an ments, articles and special features. Siregar, Chief Supervisorof the Section opportunity “for all those concerned The BOBP is observing World Food for Implementation of World Bank about world hunger to renew their Day by organising a photo exhibition, Credit to Small-scale Fishermen- commitment and to take vigorous “Glimpses into Small-Scale Fisheries Farmers; and Martono of the Inland action.” inthe Bayof Bengal” : itwill beinaugur- Fisheries Research Institute at Bogor. To observe World Food Day, govern- ated at Hotel Taj Coromandel in The mission was accompanied during mentsand privateagencies throughout Madras on October 16, and will be on a part of its survey by two BOBP experts the world are planning a varietyof acti- view in Madras till October 20. The

fisheriesadviserM.Karimand vities — such as exhibitions, fairs, exhibition may later bavel to other sociologistE.Drewes. special educationalcourses and demon- centres in the region.

BAY OF BENGAL NEWS Good News from Uppada

(continuedfrom page 1)

FAO 1 and2wereintroducedtoUppada inlateNovember1980andFAO3in January 1981. Five crewwere selected for eachboat, andSB Sarma, Inspector of Fisheries,Kakinada, was deputed to provide logistical and administrative supportfor the trials, and liaise withthe crew one the one hand and with BOBP on the other. The boatsnormally set outto seaevery afternoon and land the next morning. Sarma monitorscatch data and tackles problems that afflict craft, gear, crew and the operations in general, with supervision and advice provided by

BOBP from Madras. BOBP experts — Ravikumar and Overa and consultant Above: The crew of the three IND-13 boats tjpdergoing trials at Uppada.Below Gubrandsen — visit Uppada as and when necessary. left: “IND-13 has increasedmy eamings”says-fisherman G.Bhanoji Rao. Six months of commercial trials reveal that the BOBP prototypes are more How does the crew react to the FAO * G. Bhanoji Rao, 32, lost the navahe

economical than the baditional nava, boats? We ask them to be critical — used to own inthe May 1979 cyclone. even though they cost twice as much. their response is hardly so. The maximum share he ever received To illustrate : Forthe period November on a nay was Rs. 100 aday. He often Konada Narayana, 30, tells Bay of 1980 to May 1981 the gross earnings makes twice as much with the FAO BengalNewsthat as a nay fisherman, boat his highest dailyshare was Rs. 50. With IND 13 his share was Rs.250 on one B. Veeraraju, sarpanch of Uppada village particular day (in March). His daily and a fisherman himself, sums up the average share of Rs. 20-30 is much advantages of the IND 13 : “more higher than while operating a nava. moneyfor less work”. How does he spend the exba money? ForIND-13 ithasn’tbeensmooth sailing

Nothing fancy. “My family eats better, all through. It got off to a slow start —

and wears better clothes.” initial adminisbative problems — and Konada’s confidence in IND 13 was hitsnags everynowand then.Theboat’s strengthened bya traumaticexperience engine has challenged BOBP ingenuity in cyclonic weather inJanuary. His net on several occasions. got entangled in underwater rockand What were the snags? could not be extricated. For two days • Failure of flexible coupling due to his boatstoodalone inthe sea : Konada and the othercrew starvedandprayed. poor quality rubber tyresand improper But the FAOboatweathered the storm. alignment “The nay would havecapsized in these *Breakingofaircleanerflangeand conditions.” exhaust pipe flange due to vibration per month of the three FAOboats were On the third day the current turned, and corrosion. Rs. 33,044, Rs. 24,164 and Rs. 30,973 the cyclone abated, the net freed itself, * Excess wear of shaft and bearings respectively; the three navas, by Konada and his friends reached Hope due to sand abrasion resulting in comparison, earned Rs. 16,551, Island. They then pushed the craft across leakage of water into the engine box Rs. 13,070 and Rs. 21,185, operating it to the lee shore using the mastas a through the sterntube. an equal quantity of fishing gear. The rollerand the oarsas skids, and sailed * Heating up ofengine due toinsufficient average net return per month of the to Kakinada bay. By the time they air circulation. returned home they were exhausted threeIND13 boats waboats sRs.1,248after * Frequent loss of the rudder heel deducting wages at Rs. 15/man day — but alive! locking pin. while the average net returnof the three After that episode, says Konada, the navas was Rs. 226. The investment people of Uppada have harboured no While temporary repairs were under- return on IND 13 boats was 24% while doubts about the FAO boats. Even in taken by Sarrna at Kakinada, BOBP the return on the nava was 7.3.%. the matterof surfcrossing, says Konada, staff haveS attempted to solve the “We are on the right course,” says the FAO boat is easier to manoeuvre problems from time to time by intro- Ravikumar. than the bigger and heavier nava. ducing

6 BAY OF BENGAL NEWS a rigid screwtype coupling. duce 30 to 50 of these craft in Uppada. should be bained on handling them aflexible stuffing box. Two possibilities for finance are being and on maintaining the engines. The • biggerdiameter shaft with renewable mentioned. fisheries baining institute atKakinada, sleeves in way of bearings. 1. A World Bank loan mooted earlier it is suggested, could provide the • fluted rubber (cutlass) stern bearing for 60 non-mechanised boats at baining. to minimise sand abrasion. Nizampattinam — this could be From the experience gathered so far, • Stainless steel exhaustpipesystem to diverted to the beachcraft project if BOBP hasdeveloped andbuilt alarger AP officials consider it worthwhile. preventcorrosion, discharging slightly version of IND 13, the IND 18. The below waterlevel to muffle engine 2. The DRDA (District Rural Develop- cost increase is marginal and the craft noise. mentAgency), Kakinada could fund offers more shelter to the fishermen the project if its potential forgood is besides better performance under sail * a lid with an adjustable air scoop. demonstrated. (The DRDA is a and power. However, for introduction an air inlet shut off lock to stop the government-funded but indepen- of these craft in large numbers, BOBP engine instantaneously and prevent dently operated agency thataimsat is designing a fibreglass boat (IND-20) damage in case of a capsize. raisingthe incomes of people below based on the IND-18 design. a sturdier heel fitting. the poverty line in ruralareas). What all thisadds up to is that IND 13 IND 13 has proved itself. It is viable. BOBP expertsexperts believethatbefore30 to or 18 or IND 20 could very wellbe the What is the next step ? BOBP experts 50 craft are introduced at Uppada, beachcraft of tomorrow in Andhra believe the time is opportune to intro- fishermen selected to operate them Pradesh. S.R.M.

parts for the engine or buy mending yarn. Around 3 p.m. Sarma goes to his office base, the fisheries baining insti- S.B. Sarma tute at Kakinada, and enters the field Salagrama Bhaskara Sarma, 38, Ins- data collected by him in the morning • pector of Fisheries in Kakinada, rises (from the IND 13s and the nays) on every morning at 0430 at his home in data sheets,provided by the BOBP. Kakinada.An hour later he catchesthe Every monththesedata sheets are sent first bus forUppada or kicks the starter to the BOBP office. of his Moped for the 35 km ride Sarma is rarely home before 6p.m. He through narrow crowded streets. He is then pores over the Hindu, or a at Uppada by 0700 a.m. Between technical fisheries publication, and 0700 and 1100, the three “FAO boats” helps his two sons, 15 and 13, with (IND 13) and three traditional navas school studies beforesupper and sleep. Sarma’s entire career has been spent which he has to monitor land with That is a typical workingday in the life on the sea, and he now has an their catches. Sarma jots down both of Sarma, whom Uppada villagers impressive seatime record. Joining the catches and earnings, rechecking the know as a very active, friendly person, Andhra Pradesh fisheries department figureswith two orthreecrew members. one who doesn’t mind getting his feet as Assistant Inspector atthe age of 20, Datacollection over, Sarma talks to the dirty or hands wet while on the job. “If soonafteralicentiate in fisheriestechno- crew of the IND 13 prototypes about we have madeprogress atUppada,we logy andnavigation, Sarma specialized problems they have faced. His small have good reason to thank Sarma,” in navigation of vessels and fabrication blackbagis full of bolts, nuts, andsmall says Ravikumar. “And we have also to of fishing gear, obtainedamasterfisher- tools to replace IND-13 parts lost or thank the Andhra Pradesh department man’scertificatefromtheCentral lnsti- worn out. If the hull develops a leak, of fisheries for the excellent backing tute of Fisheries Operatives, Cochin (a Sarma fixes it with araldite. He also given to us. A new post within that precursor to the present CIFNET),

ensures that sufficient diesel oil is department — that of ‘Inspector of worked in Vizag, Narsapur and Kaki-

available for the boats’ next trip, and Fisheries — Beachcraft’ was created nada (Andhra’s threecentres of marine checks whether the gear is being for Sarma to cut red tape and over- activity), and helped establish the mended and whether the engine has come adminisbative problems”. fisheries operations unit of Andhra been attended to. “Net mending is To ease Sarma’s mobility, BOBP, with Pradesh Fisheries Corporation. His necessary every day,” says Sarma, the concurrence of the Director of varied experience makes him usefulas otherwise it is likely to get useless very Fisheries, provided Sarma with a aman-on-the-spot. soon. Moped. The vehicle has since been “If we are to provide the best possible There are frequent problemswith the used forurgent trips toand fro, andfor development assistance to national

engines, and Sarma either rushes to transporting supplies — and occa- governments, we need active cooper- Kakinada and passes the problem on sionally for taking BOBP’s Ravikumar ation and a good counterpart input to amechanic thereortelephones Ravi- or Overa or Gulbrandsen to the from them,” says BOBP director Lars kumar at BOBP for advice. On other mechanic’s shop or even all the way to Engvall.Salagrama BhaskaraSarma is days he mayhave to arrange forspare Uppada. a symbol of both.

BAY OF BENGAL NEWS FOCUS ON TAMIL NADU: TRADITIONAL CRAFT

edavalai, madavalaiand pynthavalai. A five-log kattumaram, which is the most common in Tamil Nadu, is generally used for operating driftnets locally Kattumarams known as irukavalai. Afour-log kattu- maram is also used for operating drift- A Daniel describes these remarkable craft, which account nets andbottomset nets. Another type for 70 per cent of Tamil Nadu’s marine fish catch. of five-log kattumaram also known as thundilmaram, is used for line fishing. Tamil Nadu state has a coastline of shaped, with a definite fore and aft Aseven-log kattumaram, the biggestof about 1,000kñt with 349fishingvillages curvature in the vertical plane. The the raft kattumarams, is used for kola and a fishermen’s population of longer logs are placed inboard andthe fishing, to capture flying fish. .349,000, about one-third of whom shorter logs are placed outboard and The boatkattumaram consistsof3to5 all the logs are lashed together. All the engage in actual fishing. Total marine logs and ranges from 6to8metres in fish catch atpresent is about 226,000 logs meet at the stem, but the stem length. itis similartothe raft kattumaram ends in a series of steps. At the fore tonnes per annum. Some 70% of the exceptthat the outboard logs are placed catch atpresent is landed by indigenous endwhere the planks endat the same higher to form a roughly “U” shaped craft -34,000 kattumaramsand 8,000 level, it is finished with an upward-curve cross-section, a rudimentary boat. All vallams — and the balance by mech- prow, by means of prow pieces which the rogs are of the same size and there anised fishing boats. are lashed to the logs forward. is no separate prowpiece. The logs are The Tamil Nadu coastcan be broadly A unique feature of the raft kattu- lashed together forward and aft to two classified into three distinctive areas. marams is that theycan be transformed horn-shaped cross pieces that hold the Each of the three hosts a distinctive into bigger or smaller units, depending logs. The boatkattumarams are gener- type of craft. The three areas are the upon the number of logs and the type ally operated in pairs for boat-seine follQwing: of fishing forwhich the kattumaram is nets (madivalai) and single kattumarams 1. The Coromandel Coast extending put into use. The owners can make for gillnet fishing and line fishing. from Pulicat in the north to Point different units at will according to the Fishermen of the Coromandel Coast Calimere in the south. fishing requirements. These raft kattu- say they find the boal kattumarams of 2. Palk Bay, from Point Calimere in marams are basically similar but given the Gulf of Mannar region unsuitable, the north to Rameswaram in the different names depending on the gear their surf performance being inferior south. used andthe length of the centre log or logs. 3. The Gulf of Mannar, from Rames- waramin the north to CapeComonn Craft-gear combinations in the south. A four-logkattumaram, generallyknown In the Coromandel coast, which is highly as periamaram, is used to operate the surf beaten, only the raft-type kattu- thurivalai (boat seine, a primitive type maram can be operated. In the Gulf of of mid-water trawl net) andnetsknown Mannar area, nearthe Cape Comonn as edaualai, madaualaiand pynthavalai. region, boat kattumarams are in use. For operating these types of nets, a The Palk Bayand the Gulf of Mannar three-logkattumaram,known as chinna- are sheltered areas from where the maram, is also necessaiy. A four-log fishermen operate their indigenous kattumarani andathree-logkattumaram canoes or vallams. The logs were are used for operating athurivalai.Two originally of the species Melia dubia four-log kattumarams and two three- (Lunumidella) andwere importedfrom log kattumaramsare usedforoperating Sri Lanka. At presentAlbizzia stipulato the other three types of nets—the (Mara Maram), obtained from the Kerala forests, is used. Thus two distinct types of kattumarams edst in Tamil Nadu — raft kattumarams and boat kattumarams. 1. A raft kattumaram is a keelless raft formed by lashing together three to five logs, occasionally seven light logs. These logs are not of the same length, the end ones being distinctly shorter. The craft range in length from three to nine metres. Each log is individually

8 A six-log kattumaram returns with catch, mainly sardines. Right: Shaping of a kattumaram log. The fishermen do it themselves; but sometimes an expert, like this one in Kanyakumari, is hired for a few days. Kattumarams are propelled through the fishing ground from the shore depends Many fishermen own neither craft nor surf by paddles and punting poles. In on the fishing method. For example, if gearbut are employees of the owners the southerndistricts, splitbamboo sticks the fishermen use scoop nets, the andget an agreed share ofthe proceeds are used.Oars are used at sea in some ground may be near the shore, but if of the catch.Arrangements forsharing cases. Steering is also by oar. All kattu- theychoose either gillnet fishing or line the earnings from kattumarams vary marams use the lateen sailing rig as fishing, they may have to go 3to10 from region to region, even village to means of propulsion. Sails are made miles. On their return, the kattumaram village; theyalso vary according to the either of cotton or synthetic material. has to be beached carefully; if it is not type of fishing gear used at the time. Depending on the type of fishing for properly controlled, the breakers The average earnings ofthe kattqmaram which thesekattumarams are put into (waves) may dash the kattumarams fishermen mayrange from Rs. 5toRs. use, the fishermen set out either early against the shore. On reaching the 20 per day. There is no recurring in the morning by 2.00 a.m. andreturn shore, the raft kattumaram of the expenditure. around 7.00 or 8.00 a.m., or set out Coromandel Coast is untied andtaken Kattumaram fishermen lead a hazard- late evening and return early the next to the beach as seperate logs. But the ous life. They are exposed tothe vagaries morning. For line fishing, the fishermen boat kattumaram is always kept tied of wind andwave and are quite unpro- setout earlymorning andreturn latein together. tected at sea. In bad weather, kattu- the evening. While launching out, the The cost of kattumarams may range fishermen keep the bow of the boat at from about Rs. 300 to Rs. 750 perlog, right angles to the surf andtake off at depending upon the length and girth the appropriate time when the surf of the log. The average cost of one unit condition permits the fishermen to ranges from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000. launch their boat. After crossing the The life of the logs varies from about3 first fewbreakers the fishermenrowthe years to 10years dependingon the use boat with a paddle. If the wind is of the logs. Both kattumarams and favourable they hoist their sail and run kattumaram gears are generallyowned by means of wind propulsion. The by affluent members of fishing hamlets upturned prow pieces provide the —who may or may not be working needed life when the kattumaram - fishermen. The kattumaram and the enters the waves. The distance of the gearmaybe owned bydifferent persons.

E. Amalore 9 Children in the fishing community take to the sea prettyquickly. Here’s a youngster handling a kattumaram like a veteran. Top left: Lashing the kattumaram logs together. Top right: Pushing the craft into the water. Left: Getting ready to battle the waves. Right: Using a pole to propel the raft — Harry Miller took these shots at the Marina inMadras. marams havebeen known to driftaway were conducted at Madras with out- are treated with chemical wood pre- from the shore, never to return. When board motors fixed to kattumarams. servatives, theycan be protectedagainst the fishermen go out for kola maram Here also, petrol-fuelled outboard fungus attack, and their working life fishing (flying fish), they have to stay motors were found uneconomic. As a increased. It has also been proposed out in the sea for two or three days. result, kerosene outboard motors were to take up physicalprotection of kattu- There have been occasions when in imported. But now that the cost of maram logs by means of fibre-reinforced bad weather the fishermen have lost kerosene has increased too,such out- plastic sheathing or fibre-glass control of their craft and been washed board motors are no more economic. sheathing. ashore on a distant coast. Since 70% of the marine fish landing Another kattumaram-improvement The kattumaram is the craftbest suited ofTamil Nadu is from indigenous craft, activity under BOBP auspices is that for heavy surf beach conditions. the importance of this fishery is un- two alternate species of light timber

Attempts to replace these baditional questioned. The Bay of Bengal Pro- available in Andaman forests — bombax beachlanding craft with competitively gramme has taken up the project of insigne (didu) and pterocymbium tino- priced surf landing boats have so far kattumaram improvement. Melia dubia torium (papita) — havebeenimported, been unsuccessful. andAlbizzia molluccana, the two species shaped into kattumaram logs and More than a decade ago, the Tamil of kattumaram logs traditionally im- launched at the Marina to assess their Nadu Government tried out mech- ported from Sri Lanka, are no longer suitability. Thesespecies havealsobeen anisation of kattumaramswith outboard available for import. Even the timber pressure-treated with copper-chrome- motors in Kanyakumari district. But from Kerala forests used for kattu- arsenic compound (tradename ASCU). since these outboard motors were run marams — Albizzia stipulata, Bombox The pressure-treated logs will soon be on gasoline, the propulsion cost was malabaricum and melia composito — launched as kattumarams. How the not economic enough to make the are now getting scarce, and the prices pressure treatment has affected the logs operation viable. During 1971, trials of the logs have risen steeply. If the logs will be known only after some time.

10 BAY OF BENGAL NEWS BAY OF BENGAL NEWS 11 FOCUS ON TAMIL NADU : LIFESTYLE

ReporterArthurPais visited a 90-strongfishing community nearthe Marina, spent a working day with fisherman Pichai and his community, and gave us an engrossing story.

The day begins early for Pichai—at 4 When the catch is good anda gutfeeling a.m.He drinkstwo large glasses ofstrong tells them that there’s more out there, tea: unlike his coffee-loving friends, Pichai and friends return to the sea Pichai swears by tea. He won’t have after handing over the catch to the any breakfast; nor will he carry any auction woman. “On the other hand, food to the sea. For today he has been when there’s hardly any catch forthe assigned a short stint out to sea by first 40 minutes, we lose heart, and if “Periavar,” the owner of his kattu- one of us suggests that we return to maram. short and go back to sea again after a “In any case,” says Pichai, “I don’t feel few hburs, we do so.” Pichai is a garru- hungry before 10.” lous person person, but as he approaches the kattumaram he becomes abit pensive. Pichai. Medium height, dark, emaciated. He greets hisbuddies with warmth but He looks much older than 40, his real without mirth. “The genuine greetings age. “That doesn’t matter,” he says comewhenwe return to the shorewith laconically. “My wife is five years older to me.” Wife Tillai, mid40’s, mother of a heavy catch”, he says. three (two sons and one daughter) is also a wage-earner like her husband. “Our work is as unpre- As the auctioning woman, she gets dictable as the moods of exactly one rupee per day. “Not every the sea ... there’s nothing day,” she hastens to clarify. “If the men catch nothing, Tillai gets nothing.” routine about iL” Tillai decidesto snatch some more sleep as her husband and his friends go His friends have a better appetite than towards the beach. Mattukuppam, the Pichai does. They have brought cold slum inhabited by Pichai and 90 other rice, left over from the previous night, fishermen, is hardly visible from green chillies andpickled fish. The food Kamaraja Salai,one of the busiest roads is packed in tiny utensils. A dry leaf in Madras, facing the Marina beach. covers the mouth of each utensil, a Despite protests from beach-lovers,the cloth seals it. The utensils are kept in a Mattukuppam fishing community has basketmade ofpalm leaves “Thebasket been using portion of this beach to is used to store the catch. When the park its kattumarams, nets and other baskets get full, the fish is kept in the accessories. This portion of the beach net,” Pichai explains. “And then the is also used to auction their catch. homeward sailing begins.” “Our work is as unpredictable as the Pichai wants to know if we’ve heard moods of the sea,” Pichai says. “There stories of fishermen going into the sea is nothing routine aboutit.” Today he is in a sozzled state. “There’s a great going out earlyon the first stintbecause amount of drinking in my community,” the kattumaram owner decided so. “But he says. “But you just can’t go to the tomorrow, he may ask me to go later, sea in a drunken stupor. Often when for the second shift, which will be a the morning breeze chills us, some of bigger operation”. the youngsters want to take a stiff peg ofsarayam (rot-gut), but wediscourage Today Pichai and three others will them. Have plenty of coffee or tea, we operate a single cotton net from two medium-sized kattumarams. “We could tell them.” take two more crew, if the catch is Do fishing communities in the city follow expected to be big”. Often it’s instinct self-imposed territorial restrictions? that tells him whether the day will be “We are free to move in anydirection,” fine or lousy. Pichai explains. “You might have heard

12 BAY OF BENGAL NEWS over,” adds Pichai. And how long is this in our country. Please, let me go today. training period .? “Oh, anything The father is not impressed. Though between five to seven years, but you not a moviegoer himself, he knows must note that for every trip they make, about the stiff admission rates of theatres right from the first day, they are entitled on Mount Road. He suggests his son to a token payment”. That has always sees a Tamil film. “May be, I’ll let you go been the tradition Pichai believes in. tomorrow, if I get a better catch.” He himself was an apprentice for seven He’d like to take a short rest and nap, years before he was accepted as a full- Pichai tells us. The temperature being fledged fisherman by his peers. “And it what it is, he won’t like to go to his will happen to my son too.” Pichai is thatched hut and suffocate. “There are now referring to his second son; the plenty of trees around my hut. I’ll rest in first one is not enamoured with fishing. the shade.” He’s right now in the final year of school. But he can’t rest for the next two hours. Though he can find time to go along Some of his friends have bought a new with his father, he doesn’t. “He dislikes cotton net costing Rs. 500. They want the sea; when he’s free he helps his him to take them to Pichai’s swamiyar, mother in her auction chores.” a godman who also doubles as an Above : Pichai’s wife. Below : Pichai Seeing Pichai in a pleasant mood readies his kattumaram for the sea. astrologer. They want an auspicious Kalaimani, his eldest son, asks him for time to launch the net. “But you don’t of recent gang fights in a couple of some money. Jaws is in its last week, have watches,” we wonder. “How will fishing villages, but these crop up due you know the exact auspicious to personal animosities. The only fights Pichai tells his son: Come moment ?" It’s simple, they laugh at we have at sea are when mechanised with me, I’ll show you a our naivete. “Our leader will be there to boats try to poach into our territory.” bigger shark than you see bless the occasion, and he surely has a After five hours of fishing, Pichai and watch.” his friends negotiate the surf on their in the movie “‘Jaws”. After the fishermen meet the astrologer, -- way to the shore with a triumphant the net will be soaked in a boiling liquid his classmates have told Kalaimani. He prepared from tamarind seeds. This is smile. The catch has been good. As reminds his father that he has been Pichai relaxes on the sands, wife Tillai supposed to strengthen the net, increase asking to see the film for quite some hands over some breakfast, and of its useful life. And at the appointed, time. In fact the son tries a bit of course tea. Then she gets busy with auspicious moment the net will touch emotional blackmail: “So many times auctioning chores, and Pichai wonders the sea water. (in the past) you told me I could see the how much money he’s going to get at film if you get a good catch.“Pichai, “I don’t believe in superstitions; most of day’s end. who has not seen a single English film, my friends do not care for them either,” Howaretheeamingsfromkattumarams suddenly becomes extra alert. He says: Pichai speaks to us while ignoring his shared ? The arrangements vary from “You come with me next time I go on a friends for a few minutes. “But I do go region to region and even village to longer trip, and I’ll show you a bigger to the astrologers.” His astrologer seems village throughout the eastern coast of shark than you’ll see in that film.” to be popular with his friends too. “Not India. Most of the fishermen in Mattu- Kalaimani is an optimist. “But my friends only does he predict, he also suggests kuppam own neither kattumamms nor say that you cannot get such big sharks (continued on page 17) gear, which means they are hired labour. Once the auctioning is over, 50% of the amount has to be handed over to the owners of the craft. The rest will be shared among the working fishermen who participated in that particular stint. “You must have noticed two things”, Pichai says. “Before the auctioning starts, each fisherman will keep a tiny portion of the fish for the use of his family. Another small portion goes into a special basket. The basket’s earnings are handed over to the community leader, who’ll bank it and spend it later on community events such as religious festivals.” It’s common to see young boys, say seven or eight, going on a short kattu- mamm stint. “But they are not entitled to a share till their apprenticeship is

BAY OF BENGAL NEWS Dasamma. Isshe 50 or 60? She does jobs now and then. “But they are a not know and I find it hard to guess. lazy lot. I have to feed the mouths at Her face is lined, her skin withered, but home”. her figure is lithe and her walk brisk. Dasamma’s sari is as bleached and Dasamma lives in afishing villageright weatherbeaten as her face, alargetear beside the famed Marina beach of in it held together by a knot but on her Madrasand sells fish in the city markets. wrists are a pair of solid gold bracelets. Every day she comes to the beach at A relic of better times. Fisherwomen fish landing time andbuys the fish from (fishermen rarely get to handle money) one of the many auctioneers there. do not know the banking habit Their Sometimes she buys forRs. 50 some- savings, if any, are in gold. In hard times even for Rs. 200. She cannot times there is always the pawnbroker. buy directly from the fishermen even if Dasamma has held on to her bracelets they are her husband or sons. The through thick and thin. By luck or auctioneer, who is from her villageand design, the bracelets fit her wrists so appointed by it, knows her well. He snugly, they cannot be taken off. does not demandinstant payment, he The Royapuram fish landing centre is is willing willing to waituntil she has sold the crowded, noisy. Mechanised boatsand fish herself. kattumarams (which bring the fish from The auctioneer keeps aside a share of the mechanised boats to the shallow the fish handed over to him by each waters) are chock-a-block in the bay. fisherman. He auctions it separately On shore, the auctioning is in progress. when this swells in quantity, later. The The auctioneers here are women. proceeds of this auction go into the Crowding round them are more women village kitty. The auctioneer gets paid bidding for the fish. The auctioneers only a percentage. stand out fromthe restnot onlyby their strident voice but also by their obvious The village kitty is usually used for affluence. No auctioneer is without some annual festivals andother ritual village gold round her neck, on her arms or functions. In times of hardship, it is ears. used to buy rice for distribution in the village. The rations are usually allotted Although only a few miles separate on the basis of number of male adults Royapuram from Marina, the auctioning in each family, women and minors system is entirely different. The auc- getting half rations or less. Their rea- tioneer hasa share in each lot — may soning is that since the money comes be a handful of prawns, a heap of from the fish caught by the men, they sardines or a pink ‘sankara’ which is hers to auction and keep. The village have first call on it ... The kitty is some- times used as awar chest when there’s or community makes no claim on the afightwith anotherfishing village. Then proceeds. moneyflowsfreely asblood ! Howmuch When the catch is good and the fish does Dasamma make on an average hasto be sent to distant markets to be per day ? Oh-h-h, she hasn’tkeptback sold, the fisherwomen send it by cycle She gets a few rupees, less a few rickshaw, sometimes a couple of them She hasto paythe cycle rickshawkaran share a rickshaw. They follow by bus. for taking the fish to the market, she The rickshawkaran knows whereto wait hasto payrentforthe stall at the market for them. (the rent depending on the kind and On days when they are not able to amount of fish she is selling). It’s always dispose of all they have bought, they a struggle. keep it packed in ice overnight at their What about the men in her family? homes and try to sell it the next morn- Dasamma dismisses them contemptu- ing. Or else they salt-dry it. ously. She hasfour sons but only one The dry fish bade is usually handled by of them goes ‘fisarman’. The others wholesalers. A few women like have beento schooL They do notwant Panchalai, however, specialize in selling to go ‘fisarman’ (Dasamma is proudto only dry fish. They buy amonth’s lot at repeatthe English word). They do odd a time (worth Rs. 800 to Rs. 1000) on

14 BAY OF BENGAL NEWS a deferred payment basis. Although women do no bading. It is a mark of from dayto daythere maybe a loss or prosperity, or even prestige. gain of a couple of rupees, Panchalai admits to atidy profit at the end of the Next door is a family of four brothers. month. All have studied up to the ninth standard. When theyleft school, theydidn’t want Another group of prosperous women to take up fishing. They lookedforjobs are those selling food in the village and in the city, but jobs were hard to find at the landing centre —rice and fish and one by one they returned to the curry,hard-boiled eggs, fried savouries, life theyhadsought to escape. Oh they steamed yam, yellow sweetmeats, over- are all right now. But fishing was ‘boring’. ripe fruit... Since most fisherwomen “When the catch is good, we feel no spend their dayeither atthe fish landing regret, but when it is poor...” (somecome twice a day to buy fish) or the market, they often have no time to Theirmother takesthe fish by headload cook or eat at home. Both men and to the surrounding villages. She has women quite frequently buytheir food. been doing it all her life. Her daughters- Andwhen the catch is good, the food in-lawdon’t know the bade. Theycome stalls do roaring business. Forthe minute from fairlyproperous families from other he has moneyin his hands, the fisherman villages. When such girls marry “beneath loves to eat, drink andbe merry with no their station” so to say Sand are forced thought forthe morrow. That is whyhis to take to away of life theyare not used woman keeps a tight hold on the purse to, they find it extremely difficult In strings and doles him out only pocket most families in this area, at least one money. It is alsothe woman, who more woman takes to selling fish. The often than not, assumes responsibility exception is families where there is a forrepaying loans taken in hard times. baby to be looked after. Perianilankarai is 15 km.from Madras. The housewherethe transistor is blaring While some families here are quite prosperous, there are 13 households belongs to a“bicycle trader”. He delivers the fish at the various markets in the without kattumarams or nets of their city. He gets paid Rs. 10 per trip. His own. In an area of acute water scarcity the village is lucky to have a well with wife and daughter try to supplement it sweet water. But it hasn’tbeen cleaned the income by weaving nets, but is forages and nobody uses it. Fortunately tediouswork Some social worker who there are hand pumps—but these also had cometo the village had taught the require repaireveryfew daysand nobody daughter to make a bag. But who’d bothers. buy bags.?

Most houses — mud-walled, thatch- Though living so close to the city, the roofed — have one or two rooms. village has no source of income other Ganapathy’s house has four. His than fishing. There’s a chicken coop in children eat from stainless steel plates, every second house, but the chickens and in the kitchen are huge brass and their eggs are forthe family cooking vessels. Unlike others in the village, pot Nobody sellsthem.There’sa privately Ganapathy is not content with the catch owned prawn processing factory justat athome. Heloads hiskattumaram, net the entrance to the village.But very few and crew into a lorry and goes to the village women are employed there fishing grounds along the coast. Each except during the peak season. The trip lasts 34 days.Outside his house is a management prefers to employ girls green flag with acrescent and star. It is from Kerala who are already trained aprayer flag invokingthe blessings and and quick at the work. They are also protection of Nagore-ar. Hindu or willing to work shifts. The fisherwomen Muslim, the fishermen along their coast from Penanilankarai refuseto work the consider thisMuslim saint their guardian night shift. Even the male labour in the and protector at sea. factory is not from the village. They are Ganapathy is oneof two persons in the erratic, says the manager. When the village owning a ‘pachaivalai’. With this fishing is good they go off without so net, he is able to haulin big catches. His much as a by-your-leave.

15 Karpayee’s husband owns no kattu- maram or net. She is the main bread- WOMEN IN TAMIL NADU FISHERIES winner of the family. She buys the fish from the other women. (In their village units. They are operated exclusively by there is no auctioning system. The About half ofthe 400,000 strong marine fishing community along the Tamil Nadu coast consists women. women sell the fish their husbands have of women. They take vigorous part in the The Tamil Nadu Department of Fisheries has brought in). Karpayee takes the fish by fishing profession, particularly in fish handling, selected one fishing village each in Chingleput, bus to the city market because they marketing, processing, net-making and net Tanjore and Tirunelveli districts to formulate fetch a better price there. But the bus mending. They do not normally take part in schemes to betterthe social andfinancial status people always object. She has to be fish capture activity. ofwomen from the fishing community. In these selected fishing villages, women are known to carefulthe water does notseepthrough The most visible women’sactivity is marketing selling fresh fish at shore, the village market, be very active and quite receptive to new ideas. or there’s no blood draining out of her sometimes at town markets. In districts like For formulating this scheme, the Department basket.. Ayya-yo, some of the..people Madras, Chingleputand North Arcot women’s drew partly on material from two BOBP- organised workshops — held in April 1979 on the bus — what a fuss they make participation is as high as 50% Thereare “middle- women” who buy fish, and auctioneers who (training of women extension workers) and in holding their noses and pursing their September 1979 (social feasibility in small-scale sell it. mouths. fisheries development). Women are also conspicuous in fish curing, A woman lies dozing in frontof — is ita The Department has just appointed an Assistant particularly in Ramnad, Tirunelveli, Kanya- Director, Mrs. Freda Chandrasekharan, in house? Three palm fronds joined kumari and Tanjore districts. together. Take me with you, she im- charge of “Fisherwomen Extension Service.” Fisherwomen engage in net-making and net- “This is excellent news.” says Patchanee plores. Where’s her husband? I have mending to a limited degree in almost all the Natpracha,BOBP Sociologist, “and reveals great no one. I am notmarried, she says. The districts, but in large numbers in Kanyakumari foresight on the part of the Department of women and children gathered round and Tirunelveli. In Kanyakumari district the Fisheries It is worthy of emulation. We at BOBP will do everything possible to assist and snigger — oh she’s married all rightbut Kottar Social Service Society, a voluntary agency, her husband’s left her. He has another employs about 1300 women in 13 net-making strengthen this new unit in its endeavours. ‘wife’ nowthey say.Coming and leaving are a part of life. The village folk look after this anathai (orphan) as they call her. Somebody gives her some rice, a handful of fish, a discarded sari The lot of the lone woman is hard indeed. Mangamma runs a sweetshop for the village children. Is she able to makeboth ends meet ?“On a fewpaise a day?” she laughs bitterly. The fisherwoman does not risk her life at sea like her husband, but her life on land is no less precarious and uncertain than her husband’s at sea.

The many roles of the fisherwomen. Top left: Shrimp beheading in Pulicat.

Above: Fish drying at Royapuram.

Left: Net braiding and baby care — a woman handles both ifl Kanyakumari.

BAY OF BENGAL NEWS “but he would not listen, he only told night ?Does agambler spend the entire A Man Called Pichai me about soaring prices.” night in a gutter?” And yet, there are (continuedfrom page 13) Pichai has been a teetotaller for over times when Pichai reproaches himself, when he feels he should have saved remedies.” Example: Not long agoTillai two decades now. “I used to drink very some money andbought a kattumaram had a prolonged illness. Doctors were rarely,” he recalls. “On one occasion I and a net by pooling his resources not helpful,but the swamiyarsuggested must have taken an extra quantity and we change our hut, then pray at a in a moment of madness, I twisted the with those of friends. temple 20 kilometers away, perform ears of an attractive neighbour. She Back from the astrologer, Pichai sleeps pradakshan (go round the temple must have been very fond of me; so forafew hours. In the eveninghç goes several times). I had to do this forseven she did not protestjustthen. Butwhen on a tea-drinking spree in a hole-in- days, three hours each day. And the I was sober she asked me why I had the-wall tea-shop which displays a miracledid take place; Tillaiwas cured.” done such a thing to her. That shook bilingual signboard Marina Tea Bar, it Pichai respects astrologers and swamiars, me and I swore against alcohol.” Pichai says in English and Tamil. Afew hours but doesn’t understand whythey hike had been tempted subsequently to later, his friends will keep themselves their fees from time to time. “They are imbibe some sundai sor(a mild fisher- warm andbusy with somethingfar more godmen; so they won’t have many man’s brew, a rather unpalatable rice potent. The kuppam (slum / fishing problems like we have,” Pichai saysin a beer) but the memories ofthat “shame- village) will be transformed. Riots of matter-of-fact tone. “The other day, I ful” incident made him shun all kinds smells from the frying pans, inebriated consulted my astrologer about my of alcohol. talk, boastful bets and challenges, jokes, younger brotherwho likes the bottle a Pichai loves to gamble and smoke insults andaccusations. While thisopen little too much. The swamiyar said however. “These are also vices," he air circus goes on, surely several men, evetything would be all right in two says candidly. “But tell me, does a women and children will be trying to years, and demanded Rs. 5 from me. gambler (who doesn’t drink) illtreat his sleep. Especially the men who will be “You did not charge half that amount wife? Does he go around calling her going out earlynextmorning, andPichai the last time I met you”, I protested, abusive names in the middle of the will be oneof them. Should We Return To Sail? where there is a relation between the engine powerand the catch result Here (continued from page 20) again thereare large potentials in saving by adopting slow moving, largediameter it — masts, sail, rigging, etc. — costs money and generally clutters up the propellers in nozzles. The governments deck space; especially modem rigging can play a crucial role in economizing with terylene sails, aluminium masts and on engines and fuel by giving subsidies stainless steel wire is an expensive only for engines up to aspecified size investment. I personally think that the related to the boat. most immediately beneficial saving with .For new construction, the more exten- the Sri Lanka 28 ft boat would be sive use of sail in developingcountries alternative (2) — the boat is grossly is of interest because of the possible overpowered with a 30 h.p. engine. savings that can bemade byinstallinga Oyvind Gulbrandsen, Norwegian naval When it was designed by FAO 20 years low horsepower engine which would architect,isanFAOandBOBPconsul- back, an engine of about 15 h.p. was be used in calm waters or adverse wind tant. (See profile of Gulbrandsen in specified. Since then there has beenan but the boatwould be designed with an Bay ofBengal News, January 1981). escalation in power with a marginal efficient but low cost rig forthe use of increase in speed. This is similar to a sail as a main propulsion. An example same investment by having two sailing development that has taken place in of this approach is a 28 ft beachboat craft instead of one motonsedcraft and the fishing industry all over the world recentlybuilt byBOBP in Madraswhich therebyprovide more jobs and spread due to cheap fuel and the competi- hasa5H.P.air-cooleddieselengine, benefits a little wider. tiveness among fishermen to go faster andasailareaof27m2. I underline the “maybe” because there than their fellows. For carrying light loads and forfishing are so many variables that have to be methods like handlining, longlining and considered when introducing new A recent investigation in Noiway trolling, requiring small boats, I believe showed that if the engine power of the fishing craftandwemust not be canied in the development of sailing/rowing away by a nostalgic “back to the sail Norwegian fishing fleet was cut in half, craftwithout engines, based on existing the average speed would only drop movement” forgethng the long hours traditional craft like the Oru in Sri spent by the crew toiling with rowing 10%. So rather thana full scale return Lanka. to sail on motonsed boats,Ibelieve in a oars under a scorching sun on awind- much more careful use of power. We lihink we will be much more careful in less day or trying to reach the shore in must first of all usesmaller engines and the future in advocating motorization winds dead against the direction of improve on the propellers to get as the onlyway to pushproduction. An travel. But with increasing cost of oil maximum thrust forthe powerinstalled. engine often doubles the investment based energy, more use of sail poweris cost in a fishing boat. Maybe you could One main exception to the question of definitely to be reckoned with in the reduction in engine poweris fortrawlers, achieve the same production with the future.

BAY OF BENGAL NEWS 17 A visit to Tuticorin to study BOBP’s gearexperiments findsthe fishermen’s response to it to be quite positive. “From TImnelveli to Kanyakumari," says Joseph Fernando, an articulate fisher- man of Tuticorin, “the operators of mechanisedboatsand theircrew usually live fora whole yearon what theyearn for four months. Our shrimp trawlers are active from Mayto August. In other months what we catch hardly meets our fuel bill.” “Have you ever faced my dilemma?” Joseph asks with fervour. “Boats that develop leaks. Nets thatneed mending. Engines that have to be overhauled. Problems with repaying government loans,with crew. All this in addition to the usual problemsof running afamily that ewry one faces. And to tackle all this,I was was earning money only four months in a year!” “The high-openingbottom trawl intro- duced to Tuticorin by the BOBP has sustained me during the shrimp off- season, kept me and my family from hardship and enabled me to pay up the instalments due on my boats. Joseph is full of praise forthe improved technology the BOBP has brought to Tuticorin. “My English is rickety, but wheneverPajot comes here I catch hold of himand blurtoutwhateverIcan and manage to communicate so that I get his ideas on everything. On framing a net, determining mesh size, on assessing the possible performance ofa new net. Also of course on the operation and repairof nets.

Picture shows a new gear handling system designed by BOBP being used by a Joseph emphatically refutesthe sugges- private boat in Tuticorin. The system includes a gantry, net-drums and a winch. tion that the high-opening bottom trawl helps the “haves”, the well-to-dofisher- men, rather than the have-nots. “Not long ago I was a traditional fisherman operating vallams. I acquiredamecha- nised boat onlywith a bank loan, and I still have to repay the loan.” Josephadds that the crew of his mecha- (continued from page2) nized boats consist of traditional fish-

The BOBP is also arranging to provide drums and winch — was tried in the ermen who can’tmake a proper living a shrimp-cum-fish trawl net to the Tamil boat of Tuticorin fishermanAlphonse. from their kattumarams and vallams. Nadu directorate of fisheries at the He andhis crewfound that the system “I feedhaifadozen families — those of latter’s request.The net will be used for increased deck space and facilitated my crew. Till this yearmyboats used to surveying operations by the Survey- fishing operations. The gantryandnet- be idle during off-shrimp season and cum-Inshore Fishing Station,Royapuram. drums, forinstance, made net hauling haifa dozen families would go hungry. A net-maker and a seaman from the quick, smooth andeasy. “Thegantry is Now, thanks to devices like the high- station are also being trained in the a four-in-one contrivance,” says Pajot, opening bottom trawl, my crew can fabrication of the net “and more efficient and reliable than keep theirfamilies goingalmost through- A BOBP-designed gear-handling the four units it replaces : the gallows, out the year... We need more of system — whichincludes agantry, net- the mast, the boom and stays”. such technological improvements.”

18 BAY OF BENGAL NEWS Applying this analysis now to fisheries in the north, Mr. Bavinck concludes that government policy and the big merchants together made the required small-scale technology and credit Coastal fisheries have seen much community. Mr. Bavinck describes four available and the village forces them- change since the second world war. social forces that developed the “petty selves distributed these evenly over the Change - somewhere fast, some- commodity” mode of production in population, with the known good result. where slow, in some places not for the northern Sri Lanka. These are the State; In the south the four social forces took better. Looking at Sri. Lanka, we may the big merchants; the beach seine on another turn : government policy ask ourselves : Why did the north owners (who constitute the old elite provided no small-scale technology since develop so differently from the south ? group); and the boat owners (the new the local orus could not easily be Were conditions so much different elite group). There are thus two forces mechanised (force 1). The old elite did from the outset ? Which social forces from outside the village, two from not allow new entrants, and the beach were at work ? within. seines were operated where boats In his MA thesis for the Free University The important role of the State was the wanted to anchor (force 3). Due to a of Amsterdam , Maarten Bavinck effective control over the means of number of reasons the boats came into analyses major social forces at work in production : nets, boats and engines the hands of a few individuals (force 4). the northern part of Sri Lanka, which were imported and all import was So three forces worked in the “wrong” developed a so-called ‘petty commodity government-controlled. The govem- direction. .It is therefore that critical fish production” : its favoumble results ment selected 3 1/2 ton boats, plus out- descriptions could be made of what are well known. In the northern area, board engines to be fixed on existing happened in the south. mechanisation of fisheries has generally country boats, and gillnets. This techno- If we study the configuration of the had a positive impact. logy could be handled by 2-4 persons four forces in the present and future as opposed to the older method of The same cannot be said for the south- we can easily asser tthat import of larger- beach seining which always required size boats is possible (force 1) and that west coast of Sri Lanka. Some people some 30 workers. feel that mechanisation has lowered big merchants and other non fishermen the economic status of fisherfolk of this The big merchants recognised the fact are able to invest (force 2) in this new area and diminished equality and that boats cannot be controlled from a technology. As for force 4, the moral employment. distance, and were happy to leave the economy is eroding and making way risk of running the little boats to the for cool calculation. It follows that petty Thus the same innovation seems to local fishermen. commodity fish production is heavily have generated different results in the threatened. north and the south. Forces for Equal Distribution Mr. Bavinck uses thii method of hiiorical Mr. Bavinck makes clear that the So the forces which introduced the technology and the money came from dynamical forces very well to analyse favourable conditions and forces of the and clarify some cases. To say that the north were not present in the southern outside, the forces for equal Mr. Bavinck finds at the village level, book is pleasant and easy to read, area. He also comes to the conclusion however, would be a lie. One has to that these favourable forces will no longer Often we find that the old elite tries to work oneself through descriptions and be present in the future in the north hold on to the privileged position if a reasoning. Mr. Bavinck succeeds in and ends his study with a warning that new technology becomes available. In clarifying and simplifying the historical social conflicts may well be expected as Sri Lanka, however, we see that the old dynamical process but still the picture a result of this change in social forces. elite - the beach seine owners - had is complex and requires effort from the 000 gained interest in education and white- reader. But without effort, I am afraid, it Characteristic of the so-called “petty collar jobs and lost interest in fishing. is not possible to understand the develop- commodity” mode of production is that Without resistance or interference they ment process, and the insights gained small-scale technology is used by the allowed others to profit from the new are well worth the effort. - F.W.Blase owners - or to say the same thing the technology. other way round, owned by the users. The last force are the boat owners, the Maarten Bavinck : “The Fortification of Petty Thii particular mode of production was new elite : they could have taken Commodity Fiih Production in North Sri Lanka”, M.A. Thesis for the Dept. of Cultural Anthro- studied by Karl Marx, who found that advantage of the situation and accumu- in the absence of a distinction between pology and Development Sociology of the Free lated ownership in a few hands. That University, Amsterdam (April 1981) 129 pages, owners and workers it led to a high this did not happen Mr. Bavinck at- to be ordered from the Free University, Post degree of income equality. tributes to the existence of a “moral Box 7161, 1007 MC Amsterdam, The Nether- The “petty cornmodity mode of produc- economy”. In the village, what counts is lands, S 10 including postage. tion can only take place if there is some not just the mercenary motive : one has See also : Maarten Bavinck, “The Changing Face of Sri Lanka Fishing Economy”, paper for (new) means of production available, the duty to help a neighbour or relative Symposium ‘Small Scale Fishermen in Develop- which can be individually owned by when he wants to start his own ing Countries” held in May 1980 at the Royal many people and is spread over the business. Tropical Institute, Amsterdam.

BAY OF BENGAL NEWS 19 OPINION

Oyvind Guibrandsen’s provocative poser and thoughtful reply.

If you asked this question to fishermen presentlypowered by a30 H.P. engine in India, eight out of ten would answer and is utilized forlargemesh driftnetting, “What do you mean? The shrimp carrying a crew, gear and fish load of trawlers andafew other boats have got around 800 kgs. The boats spend on engines, but we have only sails and an average three hours to reach the arm power to move our kattumarams fishing ground and the same time back, and canoes.” that is atotal of six hours steamingtime For India, the question is therefore atfull throttle. The increase in the price irrelevant unless wecould findaway of of fuel over the last years now really catching shrimp on a large scale with starts hurting. What can be done to sail powered vessels andthe prospects save on fuel cost? here do not seemtoo promising. The fisherman has four options: Countries which abandoned sail for 1. Travelling at full engine speed fishing vessels decadesago, have how- (30 H.P.) ever, dueto increased cost offuel again 2. Travelling at half engine speed (15 started looking into theuse ofsail power. H.P.) A tuna fishing vessel using sail and engine has recently been launched in 3. Using sail only. France and there is some interest in 4. Using sail part of the distance in using sail on the west coast of U.SA favourable wind and the engine This is a very small start but it is a whenthe wind is unfavourable. developmentthat was unthinkableonly How do these alternatives compare in ten years back. The project potential is fuel saving andextratime saved on the largely limited to fishing methods like fishing trip ?Alternative (4)has however trolling where a constant speed of four so many variables that we have“to to five knots can be achieved by sail. exclude it in the comparison.

Full Power Half Power Sail only

Engine Power 30 HP. 15 HP. 0 H.P. Speed (knots) 7.5 6.5 4 average Steaming time (hours) 6712 Fuel consumption (in litres) 36 21 0 Fuel consumption (SRL Rs.) 216 126 0 Saving 0 90 216 Extra time on the fishing trip 0 1 hour 6 hours The use of sail forgoing to the fishing By going completely back to sail the ground and back to port is more an fisherman could save Rs. 216 but has open question. Crew costs are high in to spend an average six hours longer developed countries andifthe duration on his fishing trip. Is the saving worth of the fishing trip is increased due to it ? I doubtso. Acomplete return to sail the slower speed with sail, the extra would foradaytripboat like thisbeout crewcost might easilycancel any savings of the question. If the boatcould spend on fuel. several days on the fishing ground and In developing countries where crew use ice for keeping the catch fresh, costs are low in relation to fuel costs, therewould be abetter case forsail. the prospects of using sail seems a lot The fishermen can use alternative (4)

brighter. But before being carried away — that is the use of the sail when the by a vision of white sail against a blue wind is blowing in the right direction horizon and no noise and fumes from and the engine when there is no wind dirty engines, let us look at a specific or unfavourable wind.Whatwehaveto case, the Sri Lanka 28 ft boat Several keep in mind howeveris that although thousands of this craft have been the wind is free, the equipment to catch introduced over the last 20 years. It is (continued on page 17) Published by Lars 0. Engvall forthe Bay of Bengal Programme, Post Bag 1054, Madras-600 018, India. Phototypeset at Mesvag Process and Printed at Nagaraj & Co., Madras -600041. Editor: S.R. Madhu. Layout Artist: E. Arnalore.