KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Project title
SECOND YEAR PROGRESS REPORT OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT ENTITLED
“STUDIES ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISHING COMMUNITY
OF THE COASTAL AREA OF THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT DUE TO THE
CHANGES IN LAND USE”.
File No : No. 025/E&E/14CSTE
Name of PI : Dr. S. PREMJITH
Address : Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development Studies
Trivandrum.
Phone: 9446490359
Broad area of research : Conservation and Management
Specific area : Restoration and protection of coastal resources
Date of start (1st phase) : June 2016
(2nd phase) : July 2018
Total cost of project : 17,07400 (first year-753800, second year-561800,
Third year-391800)
1
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development Studies (RGIDS) - Overview
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development Studies (RGIDS) is a non Governmental research organization, registered under the Travancore Cochin Literary Scientific Charitable Societies
Registration Act, 1955. RGIDS was started in 2005 in memory of Shri. Rajiv Gandhi, former
Prime Minister of India. The RGIDS envisages to join the league of leading centers of excellence in socio-economic , science research, teaching and training in development studies so as to address the development challenges in tune with the changing needs of the economy and society, by reorienting its research priorities and strengthening and diversifying its teaching and training programmes with a view to providing policy inputs and capacity-building in collaboration with other institutions of social-science research. Over the years, RGIDS has diversified its researchactivities including fisheries. Under the fisheries programme, research project entitled
“Studies on the sustainable development of the fishing community of the coastal area of
Thiruvananthapuram district due to the changes in land use” was sanctioned by Kerala State
Council for Science, Technology and Environment SasthraBhavan, Thiruvananthapuram in the year 2016.
2
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
1. INTRODUCTION
It has been reported that the marine fisheries in India particularly Kerala over the years has declined considerably due to over capitalization and climatic changes. Moreover the fishing in inshore waters has become intense competitive over years due to the adoption of innovative fishing technologies. The rate of transformation of mechanization and motorization of traditional fishing crafts has been so dramatic since five decades. The impact of mechanization has caused severe threats over the livelihood of the traditional fisherfolk of India with intense conflicts who concentrate their fishing in the inshore waters. The mechanization has been so diverse and complex. The Kerala Government has decided to go ahead with the project of Vizhinjam seaport which, according to marine experts, would be an ecological disaster for fishing communities, eco-tourism and biodiversity of Trivandrum coast. This has mooted the fisherfolk to be more concerned over the resources. The follow up was the fisherfolk at various pockets to realize that the resources have to be curtailed for the sustainable catches. Enough and more package of practices concentrating on conserving the resource has been recommended by the research system to control the over exploitation and the same has well received by the fisherfolk only at certain pockets but it is not at the expected level. There is enough number of reasons to inform why the fishermen folk do not adhere to the fisheries regulation acts envisaged by the
Government. However, there are some cases that have been reported and documented from various hydro climatic zones. The number of cases is very meager in Indian fisheries sector and same has to be well documented and critically analyzed. The cases where the fisherfolk have taken their own initiatives to conserve the resources in Kerala have been documented. Three cases have been recorded. First case, the resolution method followed by the traditional and mechanized fishermen groups fishing in the same area. Second case, the fishermen of Kerala
3
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
state restricting the catch of juveniles and the Third case is establishing artificial reefs. The results of the in-depth analysis of the selected three cases inform that the fisherfolk have been self induced rather on based compulsion for taking initiative over the conservation (Premjith,
2010). Therefore, protection and rejuvenation of coastal natural resources become an important aspect of coastal zone management from the view of natural, man-made disasters and over exploitation.
Fishing communities in India are not homogenous, as they belong to different castes and have their distinct geographical, social, cultural, economic and traditional structures, depending on the coast, where they populate. Poovar panchayat in Parassala block of Thiruvananthapuram district has a total area of 7.34 sq.km with a population of 25.6 thousands of which nearly two fifths are Hindus about one third are Christians and more than one – fourth are Muslims. Almost
60 % of the Christians are fisherfolk. It has two coastal wards predominantly inhabited by the fishermen community.
Improvement of environment, alternative methods for increasing coastal resources, transplantation of traditional fishing practices, socio-cultural activities, socio economic development of coastal communities, eco-tourism and human rights of fisherman community of
Thiruvananthapuram coast are the major priority of this project and the project is “field and extension” oriented one.
4
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY.
1. To study the socio-economic impact on coastal villages of Thiruvananthapuram district due to the changes (reclamation) in land use.
2. To prepare an inventory on the commercially important finfishes, shellfishes and sea weeds of coastal area of Thiruvananthapuram.
3. To study the present environmental quality (hydro-biological parameters) of Poovar estuary with special reference to eco-tourism and harbour.
4. To study the alternative methods including sea ranching for increasing coastal resources production through responsible fishing, self induced conservation package and coastal aquaculture practices in coastal waters to compensate the loss of fishing ground/breeding grounds due to the changes in land use.
5
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
3 a. FIN FISH RESOURCES OF POOVAR ESTUARY
The investigation conducted during the year 2016-17 showed that 28 fish species, belonging to the 21 families are present in Poovar estuary. Out of 28 fishes, 9 fishes have economic importance at Poovar area (Table 1). It includes, Arius arius, Channa marulius,
Channa striata, Chanos chanos, Cirrhinus mrigala, Etroplus suratensis, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Mugil cephalus and Oreochromis mossambicus.
Species composition in the Poovar eastuary resulted that Perciformes dominated with other groups represented with 16 species and it almost more than half of the total species. The distribution pattern of fishes in the Poovar estuary is mainly based on salinity gradient since the estuary is coming under bat-built category. Some marine fishes like Arius sp, Caranx sp, Gerres filamentosus, Sillago sihama, Monodactylus argenteus, Terapon sp, and Valamugil are entered in to the estuary during the time of rainy season when the sand bar was opened. Monodactylus argenteus (Silver moony) is an attractive and valuable ornamental species under the family monodactilidae presently seen in the Poovar estuary zone.
Fig.1 : Diagram showing species composition of fishes in Poovar estuary Anguilliformes Beloniformes Clupeiformes Cypriniformes Cyprinodontiformes Elopiformes Gonorynchiformes Mugiliformes Perciformes Siluriformes
6
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Table 1 : Fish diversity in Poovar estuary
Sl.No. Species name family order IUCN Status*
1 Ambassis gymnocephalus Ambassidae Perciformes LC
2 Anguilla bicolor bicolor Anguillidae Anguilliformes LC
3 Aplocheilus lineatus Aplocheilidae Cyprinodontiformes LC
4 Arius arius Ariidae Siluriformes LC
5 Arius subrostratus Ariidae Siluriformes NE
6 Caranx spp. Carangidae Perciformes NE
7 Channa marulius Channidae Perciformes LC
8 Channa striata Channidae Perciformes LC
9 Chanos chanos Chanidae Gonorynchiformes NE
10 Cirrhinus mrigala Cyprinidae Cypriniformes LC
11 Dawkinsia filamentosa Cyprinidae Cypriniformes LC
12 Etroplus maculatus Cichlidae Perciformes LC
13 Etroplus suratensis Cichlidae Perciformes LC
14 Glossogobius giuris Gobiidae Perciformes LC
15 Hyporhamphus spp. Hemiramphidae Beloniformes NE
16 Lutjanus argentimaculatus Lutjanidae Perciformes NE
17 Megalops cyprinoides Megalopidae Elopiformes DD
18 Mugil cephalus Mugilidae Mugiliformes LC
19 Oreochromis mossambicus Cichlidae Perciformes NT
20 Terapon jarbua Terapontidae Perciformes LC
21 Valamugil speigleri Mugilidae Mugiliformes NE
22 Gerres filamentosus Gerreidae Perciformes LC
23 Leiognathus equulus Leiognathidae Perciformes LC
24 Monodactylus argenteus Monodactylidae Perciformes NE
25 Nematalosa nasus Clupeidae Clupeiformes LC
26 Scatophagus argus Scatophagidae Perciformes LC
27 Siganus javus Siganidae Perciformes NE
28 Sillago sihama Sillaginidae Perciformes NE
7
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
The fishing gears operated to exploit fishes and crustaceans in the inland waters of Kerala consists of two types of stationary gears, 28 types of gill nets, 17 varieties of seines, 7 kinds of cast nets and 9 kinds of lines.Simple Gill net and Line fishing are the fishing techniques widely practiced in Poovar estuary by local and stranger fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Andra
Pradesh. Gill net is the most common and major gear widely used in different depth ranges in the
Poovar estuary zone. A simple gill net consist of the float line, gravel lines (side ropes), floats, sinkers, buoys and buoy lines. Other than mesh size, the most important characteristics of a gill net are its visibility and stretching ability of meshes. Etroplus fishery is the major fishery in the
Poovar water throughout the year. Other important fishery caught by gill nets in Poovar region includes prawn fishery (Penaeus spp. and Macrobrachium rossenbergii), mugil fishery (Mugil cephalus, Liza parsia.etc) and crab fishery (Scylla serrata, S.olivacea).
Line fishing is basically composed of a line and a hook. Hook and lines are more efficient in many cases for catching fish than gill nets in Poovar region because of disturbance of stony bottom and other hard waste at water bodies. Hooks which are used in hand line generally small in size than long line. Monofilament nylon yarns with 0.3 -0.4 mm width and approximately 20-
25 m long are more stable for long line fishing, such types widely used in Poovar estuary. In the study area live baits likes prawns, earthworms, small fish, etc are used for line fishing. Target species includes Lutjanus argentimaculatus (chemballikkora), Arius arius (thedu), Mugil cephalus, Channa striata, Channa marulius (cherumeen), Etroplus suratensis, etc.
The northern side of the Poovar estuary is occupied with tourist resorts. The drainage channels from the resorts and AVM canal, used for retting activities, are the main sources for the
8
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
flow of sewage and domestic wastes into the estuary. This leads to the extensive pollution and large scale depletion of fishery resources causing unprecedented anxiety in the fishery sector.
Present investigation shows that wild populations of Etroplus suratensis are subject to various pressures and diseases like septicemia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the disposal of solid and liquid wastes and the discharge of human fecal matter from adjacent habitations and an increasing number of tourism resorts and houseboats, which are going beyond the carrying capacity of the backwaters/estuaries.
An understanding of the finfish resources, fishing craft and gear employed in a water body is a pre-requisite for the proper management of the fisheries in the Poovar region.
9
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
3 b. DIVERSITY OF MARINEFISHES IN POOVAR COAST
Marine fish landings of India estimated 3.83 million tonnes in 2017 with marginal increase of 5.6% compared to 2016 and Kerala has the third largest producer with 5.83 lakh tonnes. Fishing for finfishes along the Poovar coast used to be carried out by traditional fishing graft and gears. Nowadays mechanized vessels operating modern gears like trawl net, purse seine, ring seine, etc throughout Kerala coast except Thiruvananthapuram coast line.
A total of 618 marine fish species were landed along the west coast of India with maximum numbers landed along the Tamil Nadu followed by Kerala (CMFRI, 2017). The present investigation in the study revealed that 45 species of finfishes are found in Poovar and caught by four major artisanal gears namely gill net, hook and line and two forms of inshore and offshore encircling gear. Fishery resources and selectivity of gears in Poovar has been recorded by sample collection from the major landing centers along the coast and field survey respectively.
Identified fishes belonging to the 21 family and based on the species richness, family
Carangidae was dominant with 13 species (28.88%) followed by Scombridae 6 species
(13.33%), Clupidae and Engraulidae 3 species with each family (6.66%) and miscellaneous species are distributed in other 17 families.
Ockhi cyclone was affected in the seasonal marine fishing of Kerala due to the loss of fishing days with 31% decrease in landings compared to the previous year and economic loss estimated rupees of 585 crores, 821 crores at landing centre and retail market respectively
(CMFRI, 2018).
Maximum species diversity was observed during post-monsoon period followed by pre- monsoon and monsoon. We also attempt to collect the data on the availability of fishes from
10
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
sample fishermen. Among the different marine fishery resources landed along the Kerala coast the oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) and Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) have the first and second position respectively. Fishery of these two species in the Poovar coast is very poor due to the absence of modern mechanized craft and gears like Purse seine, Ring seine, Trawl net, and boat seine.
Fig. 2. Seasonal fishery resources of different gears
12
10 Pre monsoon 8 Monsoon 6
4 Post monsoon 2
0
Saleela et. al (2015) studied that fishery of Poovar coast mostly represented 99 percentage of fin fishes comprising of 43 species. At present, seasonal fishery observed as post- monsoon ranked first with 20 finfish resource, followed by pre-monsoon (13 fishes) and monsoon (5 fishes). During post monsoon season, out of 20 resources there are 12 species caught by offshore seine followed by gillnet, shore seine and hooks and line with 10, 9 and 6 species respectively. Stolephorus commersonii, Decapterus russelli, Rastrelliger kanagurta and
Sardinella gibbosa are the major fishery resources during this period. Fishery resources are decline in monsoon season and fishery restricted with five major species namely Mugil cephalus,
Mene maculata, Megalapsis cordyla, Decapterus russelli and Rastrelliger kanagurta. Diversity increases in premonsoon season with 13 fishery important species.
11
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Fig. 3. Composition of species richness in family
Carangidae Ambassidae Scombridae Chirocentridae Cynoglossidae Serranidae Leiognathidae Lethrinidae Menidae Mugilidae Stromatidae Clupidae Siganidae Sillagnidae Sphyraenidae Engraulidae Coryphaenidae Trichiuridae Lactariidae Nemipteridae Priacanthidae
Most of them (nearly 90%) viewed that species like Sardinella spp. (Sardine),
Rastrelliger kanagurta (Indian Mackerel), Stolephorus indicus(Indian anchovy), Megalaspis cordyla (Torpedo scad/ Torpedo trevally), Chanos chanos (milk fish), Lactarius lactarius (False
Trevally/White fish), Pampus argenteus (Pomfret), Lepturacanthus savala and Scomberomorus commersonii (Seer Fish, King-fish). Although majority of the species caught during pre- monsoon season was small sized and economically low value fish. The respondents also argued that nowadays there were remarkable fall in the availability of high market value species like
Lepturacanthus savala, Lactarius lactarius (False Trevally/White fish), Pampus argenteus and
Scomberomorus commersonii.
Catamaran is a simple craft made up of three wooden logs of Erythrina variegata
(Fabaceae) or Bombax ceiba (Bombacaceae) and tied together with a strong rope. The average size of catamarans in the Poovar coast about 6 m length, 0.7 m width with fusiform shape suitable for against strong wave action in the sea. At present there are 40 catamarans are used for target big fishes including Carangids, Tuna, Seer fishes, Dolphin fish and Barracuda. Caranx sexfasciatus, Caranx ignobilis, Gnathanodon speciosus, Thunnus albacares, Scomberomorous
12
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
commersonii, Coryphaena hippurus, Sphyraena barracuda are the noted fishes caught by the craft and gear combination of catamarans and hooks and line at offshore zone. Rastrelliger kanagurta, Auxis spp. and Scomberomorous spp. are the commercially important fishes coming under the family Scombridae, Lethrinus lentjan is the most common fish, found in Poovar throughout the year and inhabitant at rocky areas of the coast caught by both gillnet and hooks and line. Traditional catamarans have almost entirely been replaced by medium size plywood boat operated by outboard engine with the horse power of 25HP, 9.9 HP and enhance the efficiency of offshore fishing.
Fig. 4. No. of species with percentage composition in different gears
100
80 No.of species 60
40 % out 20 of 45 species 0
Hooks and line are more efficient active fishing gears made up of a set of different size galvanized or aluminum coated iron, brass or stainless steel and 0.2-04 mm nylon monofilament.
Luther et. al, (1985) noted some Stolephorus species are reared cages made of nylon netting at south west coast the purpose of baits for hooks and line fishing. At presently introduction of artificial baits and luminous fibrous filaments like colorful baits are much prefer than live baits in line fishing at Poovar. Gopakumar and Sadasiva (1989) reported that 70% of the total tuna
13
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
landings in the state from the coastal fishery along Trivandrum district and the gears employed by drift net and hooks and lines.
Gill nets are the dominant gear in Vizhinjam and trawl net is not operated. The selectivity for gill nets differs from that of bag nets. Gill nets of larger and smaller mesh are expected to catch larger fish and smaller fish respectively. Fishermen in Poovar make a Trammel net, a combination of both small and large mesh for increase fishing efficiency of gillnet. Out of 45 species caught by each gear in Poovar coast resulted that gillnet with various mesh size is more efficient than others with percentage composition of 82.22 % (37 species) followed by shore seine of 51.11% with 23 species, Hooks and line of 44.44% with 20 species and offshore seine of
40 % with 18 species.
Shore seine is a type of traditional, encircling and highly active gear widely used in the entire coast of Poovar locally known ‘Karamadi’or ‘ Kambavala’ Most of the fishing gears operated in two types of crafts, motorised plywood or fibre glass boats and catamarans at 5 to 7 m depth within 0.5 km to 3 km from the sea shore. Sometimes the shoal of Pampus argenteus,
Sardinella gibbosa, Stolephorus commersonii are caught by shore seine.
Fig. 5. ‘Karamadi’ operation in Poovar.
Now the people are depending offshore, travelling for 2 to 3 hours covering about 64 nautical miles from the coast. 1136 motorized plywood and out of these 110 units has been
14
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
operated with outboard engine. The offshore boat seines locally known as ‘Thattumadi’ is another main fishing gear operated at night in fibre glass boats with 8.5 to 11.0 m OAL.
Decapterus russelli, Indian scad is dominated fishes in the operation of boat seine followed by other small pelagic fishes.
During the post monsoon season there are 8 species contributed juvenile fishery in
Poovar coast. Decapterus russelli (Indian scad) and Rastrelliger kanagurta (Mackerel) are the major juvenile group followed by Carangoides malabaricus and Caranx sexfasciatus. Juveniles of Mugil cephalus, Valamugil speigleri and Caranx ignobilis are distributed throughout Poovar coast and sometime their shoal enter into the estuary. Juveniles of Ribbon fishes, Trichiurus lepturus have high demand as dryfish in small scale industry.
Fig. 6. Juveniles of Rastrelliger kanagurtaand Decapterus russelli at Poovar landing centre
Natural calamities such as sea erosion do not cause much damage in the village do to its land contour of continental shelf. During rainy season especially in south west monsoon and north east monsoon when the sea becomes rough, the fisher workers are forced to remain idle and live under conditions of severe poverty. Nowadays, mechanization has almost swept out the traditional mode of technology. The villagers are of the opinion that the construction of the
International Seaport and reduction of subsidies, globalization polices of the state government
15
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
and depletion of fish diversity and resources would have a negative impact of the economy of fishing community of Poovar. But the younger generation find the usage of traditional catamarans and knowledge in fishing are unattractive and uneconomical.
Table 2. Shows Marine fishes of Poovar coast
16
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
INVOLVEMENT OF FISHERWOMEN IN POST HARVEST SECTOR, IN
THIRUVANNATHAPURAM DISTRICT OF KERALA
A study was conducted among a sample of 117 fisherwomen drawn through multi stage random sampling method from the fishing villages of Pozhiyur, Puthiyathura, Pulluvila,
Adimalathura, Karumkulam and Poovar located in the southern district of Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala, which has the largest number of fishing villages in the State. The district of
Thiruvananthapuram harbours, 42 traditional fishing villages. Of these the fishing villages, women involved in dry fish making were selected for the study. The average age of the fisherwomen were observed to be 53 years. The studies showed that the village of Pulluvila had the largest number of illiterates (90 percent), followed by Adimalathura (88.88 percent) and
Poovar (60 percent). Karumkulam fishing village had the largest number of fisherwomen in the primary level of education (71.40 percent) followed by Puthiyathura (61.50 percent). Secondary level of education was constituted by 5.5 percent of fisherwomen in Puthiyathura where as
Pulluvila showed 5 percent followed by Karumkulam (4.7 percent).
With respect to marital status of the fisherwomen, it was observed that, all the sample respondent fisher women in the villages of Puthiyathura and Karumkulam were married (100 percent) followed by 94.40 percent in Adimalathura. Unmarried fisherwomen among sample respondents constituted 20 percent in Pozhiyur and 10 percent in Pulluvila.
It is interesting to note that fisherwomen of Pozhiyur and Puthiyathura were involved in shore seine fishing (“Kambavala”in local parlance). The fisherwomen provided the necessary manpower in shore seine operations along the shore wherein 50-100 individuals are required to pull the ropes attached to the nets at sea and to drag the harvested fishes to the shore. Dry fish
17
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
making activities are the major revenue of the fisherwomen in the studied area, besides poultry keeping, rearing of livestock, petty tea shops and farming of vegetable crops as in Poovar and
Karumkulam. Apart from above revenue sources they are being employed as laborers in the prestigious 100 days work employment programme, provided by the Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act ( MGNREGA) of the Government of India. The present study revealed that 100 percent of fisherwomen in the villages of Pulluvila and Karumkulam are predominantly occupied in dry fish making and selling whereas the women of Pozhiyur fishing village represents 95 percent. It was observed that fisherwomen of Puthiyathura (50.03percent) were involved in shore seine fishing, and selling of dry fish, 27.77 percent involved exclusively in dry fish making and 22.20 percent were involved in the combined activities of fishing, dry fish making and sale of the produce as well. In Adimalathura fishing village, dry fish making and selling was the major activity undertaken by 82.56 percent of fisherwomen and dry fish making per se undertaken only by 17.44 percent of the women. In Poovar fishing village, 25 percent were involved in dry fish making while the remaining 75 percent were engaged both in dry fish making as well as selling of the produce. With respect to nativity of the respondents, it was found that, 100 percent were resident fisherwomen in Puthiyathura and Poovar fishing villages, and the same was accounted by 25 percent and 10 percent, in Pulluvila and Pozhiyur, fishing villages respectively.
The annual income of the fisherwomen from dry fish making from these fishing villages ranged from Rs. 9600 to 24,000/year since dry fish making was carried out only during four months in a year and the rest of the year these activities were not carried out due to inclement weather.
18
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
The occupational experience of the fisherwomen in dry fish making of all the 6 fishing villages ranged from 19-40 years with an average occupational experience of 33 years whereas in dry fish trade, the average occupational experience was 32 years.
The fish harvesting gears used in the fishing villages were drift gill nets, boat seines and hook and line operated by outboard motorized boats, in Adimalathura whereas in Pozhiyur village the major gears operated were shore seine, drift gill nets, set gill nets and hook and lines.
In Pulluvila shore seine, boat seine and drift gill nets were operated. In Karumkulam and Poovar fishing villages shore seines, hook and line, off shore encircling gear (“Thattumadi”) and drift gill nets were operated. The fishes dominating the fishery comprised of Mackerel, Indian Scad,
Tuna, Moon fish, Carangids, Cuttlefish, Ribbon fish and White Pomfret. In addition to dry fish making, in these fishing villages, value addition of fish based products in the form of fish pickle making was carried out in Pozhiyur (20 percent), Puthiyathura, (6%) Pulluvila (10 percent) and
Adimalathura (5.55 percent).
Fig.7. Dry fish making units in Trivandrum coast.
The bulk of the fish used for dry fish making in all the fishing villages except Poovar village, was procured through auction from traders of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Pradesh. The fisherwomen of Poovar procure fish from landing centers of their village. The
19
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
fishes used in the dry fish processing were mainly Mackerel, Tuna, Indian Scad, Cuttle fish,
Trigger fish, Prawns and Moonfish. These dried fishes had high demand in the market.
Fig. 8. Large scale dry fish making units in Poovar
As far as the dry fish making activities in Pozhiyur and Puthiyathura are concerned, 100 percent of fisherwomen engaged in the dry fish making activities. It was observed that, in some cases 20 percent family members and 5 percent labours were involved in the fish processing. In
Pulluvila fishing village, 45 percent employed laborers, 30 percent of the women did the processing of dry fish by themselves and 25 percent involved family members. In Adimalathura, majority (53 percent) of fisher women resorted to doing by themselves, 29 percent involved family members and 17.64 percent employed labourers. In Karumkulam fishing village, 90.47% of the fisherwomen undertook the processing activities by themselves and 9.53 percent did the activities with others. In Poovar fishing village, 75 percent of the respondents did the processing themselves and only 25 percent depended on family members for their processing activities.
The average cost of fresh fish procured for dry fish making ranged from Rs.100-10,000 and the average cost of transportation per trip for the dried produce was Rs.250. Salt was used as the preservative and drying was mainly done by sun drying on the terraces of houses using old tarpaulin sheets. The processing period was mostly 3-4 days in a sunny week.
20
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
The dried produce were transported to markets by two wheelers (50 percent) and by head load (25 percent) in Pozhiyur village, followed by lorry (50 percent), vans (27.77 percent), head load (16.66 percent) and two wheelers (5.57 percent) in Puthiyathura. In Karumkulam village cent percent of the produce was transported by vans. In Poovar, a small portion of the fisherwomen were involved in the dry fish processing and trade and it was carried by head load
(80 percent), 15 percent by auto rickshaw and 5 percent by lorries. The selling of dry fish was done in places outside the village (50 percent), in local markets (25 percent) and in both local and outside markets (25 percent). In Puthiyathura, all the produce was sold locally (100 percent) and in Poovar village 60 percent was sold locally. In Adimalathura local sales was done to the extent of 55.50 percent. As far as dry fish trade was concerned, most of the produce (45 per cent) was sold in wholesale markets, 40 percent in retail markets and 15 percent in both in retail and wholesale markets according to fisherwomen of Pozhiyur village. In Pulluvila, 60 percent was sold in wholesale, 35 percent in retail and wholesale and 5 percent sold in the retail market only.
In Adimalathura, 66.66 percent of the produce was sold in retail market, 22.22 percent in wholesale and retail and 11.11 percent in wholesale market alone. In Karumkulam, however,
52.38 percent of the produce was sold in both wholesale and retail markets, and only 38.09 percent in wholesale market. In Poovar fishing village, 65 percent was sold in the retail market,
30 per cent in wholesale and only 5 percent in both retail and wholesale markets. Regarding the collection of proceedings from sales, cent percent in Pulluvila and Adimalathura opined that, they could recover their money immediately after sales, whereas respondents from Karumkulam and Poovar (95.00 percent) said that, they could obtain their proceedings from sales immediately and 5 percent said that they could obtain money only a week after sales.
21
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
It could be observed that, though all the sample respondents had dry fish making as their predominant activity, 20 percent of respondents in Pozhiyur,10 percent in Pulluvila, and 5.55 per cent in Adimalathura resorted to pickle making as a value added product in addition to dry fish making.
With respect to the adequacy of market facilities, cent percent of fisherwomen form
Adimalathura said that, they had sufficient facilities in the market for selling fish, 94.44 percent at Puthiyathura and 75 percent at Poovar, said that market facilities were sufficient and 85.71 percent of respondents from Karumkulam expressed that, they had sufficient facilities in the market for selling fish. The existing market price for dry fish was high, according to cent percent of respondents from Pozhiyur and Karumkulam, 95 percent in Pulluvila, 83.33 percent in
Puthiyathura and 80 percent in Poovar fishing villages respectively.
As far as the packing of the processed produce was concerned, the dry fish was packed mostly in metal containers and plastic bags for transportations to the markets. The fishes are transported to markets in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu as well as to Parassala,
Vellarada, Poovar, Pazhayakada, Balarampuram, Chalai, Kattakkada in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. On an average, the fisherwomen of these fishing villages sell 1900 Kg of dry fish per month per person. The fisherwomen get a profit margin ranging from 10-50 percent with an average of 33.33 percent. The interim storage period after processing and before selling is meager, as opined by cent percent in Pozhiyur and Adimalathura and within 1-4 days in
Karumkulam, within 2 weeks time in Poovar, within a week in Puthiyathura and immediate as told by 95 percent of respondents at Pulluvila fishing village.
22
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
During rainy season, the post processing loss incurred for dry fish was found to be cent percent in Pozhiyur, Pulluvila and Adimalathura, 80-100 percent in Puthiyathura, 85-100 percent in Karumkulam and 89-100 percent in Poovar respectively. Cent percent of the respondents of the fishing villages of Pozhiyur, Pulluvila, Adimalathura, Karumkulam, Poovar and 94 percent of respondents in Puthiyathura were of the opinion that they were in need of training from expert in the field for dry fish making/processing.
23
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
5. CLAM FISHERY IN POOVAR ESTUARY
Clams are eaten mostly in the coastal regions of India, especially in the Konkan,
Kerala, Bengal and Karnataka regions. Clams have more protein content than other sea
food, such as scallops and oysters. They are low fat, high protein food. Vitamin B12 is
among the vitamins and minerals that can be found in clams. Since clams form rich
protein food and are regularly consumed by local people, the understanding of the
biochemical constituents of different species would be valuable for sustainable utilization
and management of such natural resource.
In the South Western coast of India, also known as Konkan region, clams are used
to cook curries and side dishes like Tisaryachi, Ekshipi, which is clams with one shell on.
Clam fishery forms secondary source of livelihood for the poor fishermen community.
Vembanad Lake is the major estuarine system which harbours a rich resource of clams
the black clam (Villorita cyprinoides). Annually about 31,650 tonnes of clams are fished
from this lake of which 31,430 tonnes is contributed by black clam (Kripa et. al., 2004).
Of the several species, Villorita cyprinoides locally known as ‘Kayalchippy’
(black clam) is the only clam resource of the Poovar estuary. This resource has been
traditionally exploited by the local peoples around the Poovar estuary. The clams
harvested are boiled for 5 to10 minutes in large aluminium vessels. The boiled shell-on
clams are shaken well in a small bucket to separate the meet from the shell. The meat
thus removed is sold in the local market.
Species description : Shell fairly large, trigonal, cordate and very oblique,
anterior margin short, regularly curved above, almost straight in the middle, then with a
rapid curve and meeting the ventral border, the latter curving upwards and meeting the
24
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
posterior margin, the posterior margin nearly straight, much larger than the anterior, with thick concentric ridges, umbones prominent, near the anterior side, recurved, a large, thick external ligament posteriorly inflated in the umbonal as well as in the middle regions and greatly compressed ventrally. Shell thick with concentric ridges prominent with anterior portion, umbones striated. Periostracum greenish brown, dark brown or black.
Fig. 9. Villorita cyprinoides collected from Poovar estuary.
25
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
6. SEAWEED RESOURCES OF POOVAR TO VIZHINJAM
A study of seaweed diversity in the Trivandrum coast is of vital importance in the face of the rapidly increasing industrial impact on aquatic ecosystem in this region. Seaweed are one of the important resources in the economy of many nations as they have been a stable item in the diet of many people. Seaweed biodiversity essentially represents the species richness and their abundance, which may be exploited for commercial use.
The diversity, abundance and distribution of seaweed are influenced by environmental factors such as exposure to desiccation, rainfall, temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and nutrients viz., nitrite, nitrate and phosphate, availability of substratum and herbivores. Some studies on algal resources and monthly fluctuations in biomass have been carried out from different regions of Indian coasts and estuary. Considering all these factors, the present study on the distribution and abundance of seaweed and the effect of environmental factors on the distribution and abundance of seaweed along the Trivandrum coast was made.
Diversity, distribution and abundance of seaweed are known to be influenced by both physical and biological factors. The present study reveals that the construction of Vizhinjam
International sea port were found being destroyed due to the dredging works carried out as part of the project. Previous studies (James, 1987) showed that 14 species were present in the
Vizhinjam coast. According to him harvestable quantities of seaweed are available in the rocky area of the coast. Sofiamma et. al, (1991) studied the seaweed resources of Chowra coast and found that 22 species of seaweed belonging to three classes namely Chlorophyceae, Phaephyceae and Rhodophyceae were found to occur. The coastline towards Kovalam is rocky shore where seaweed used to be abundant there. But now they have been disappearing due to the
26
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
accumulation of sediments brought port by the dredging work. The present preliminary seaweed survey revealed only 4 species namely Chaetomorpha antennia, Chaetomorpha aerea, Ulva spp.
Grateloupia spp. belonging to two families. They are also in the verge of extinction. Monthly variation in the occurrence, distribution of marine seaweed and variations in species composition within the station was observed during the study period.
Fig. 10. Seaweed observed in Trivandrum coast.
27
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
7.CAGE FISH FARMING.
Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector in the world today. While most of the
lotic and lentic water bodies of Kerala are suitable for aquaculture, cage aquaculture farming
is yet to explore the actual potential of the in-land, to meet the demands in aqua food, to
attain success in business and to utilize the land resources to its maximum. This offers great
opportunities for the local aqua farmers to play a vital role in venturing into aquaculture,
improving food security and thus contributing to the economy of the country.
The backwaters of Kerala are the most prominent with more than 70 edible species
which include shrimp, mullets, pearl spots, crabs, oysters, clam, milk fish, scampi, cat fishes
etc. Out of the above species, Pearl Spot has an outstanding position among the fish eaters
and hence the fishermen in inland water gave more attention to catch this fish. This
indigenous fish of Kerala lives in varying water conditions ranging from fresh water to the
salty brackish water.
Fig. 11. Pearl spot in cage
28
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
The Pearl Spot, Etroplus suratensis , a hardy species having nutritional value, good flavour and taste is one of the most ideal fin fishes for farming in tanks, irrigation wells, domestic ponds, temple ponds and backwaters and also affordable by low income groups. Its non-predacious habits and easy adaptability to different kinds of water are useful features for its successful cultivation in ponds and cages.
Various Committee reports submitted to Government and Central and State Research
Institutes pointed out that the Pearl Spot fishery of Kerala is in declining phase. During
1960s, the Pearl Spot fishery of Kerala contributed 17000 tonnes (report of RARS,
Kumarakam) and the share of Pearl Spot in the total inland fish production has declined from
10% of total inland catches in 1990-91 to further about 6% in 2002-03. The maximum size and weight of Pearl Spot catches nowadays is also shown diminishing.
Pearl Spot is reported to be a year round breeder in natural environment system with one or two peaks. Gravid fish were collected from open waters and size of the fish ranged from 150 to 180mm in length and 110 to 180 gm in weight. Probably May-June and November- December are two breeding periods of this fish. Fecundity is low and one female fish lays only 800-1000 eggs per batch.
29
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Declaration of Karimeen as the ‘State Fish’
“Karimeeen (Etroplus suratensis) is considered as the brand ambassador of Kerala
Fisheries. Karimeen has been approved as the state fish of Kerala by NBFGR (National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources) and is declared as state fish by Government of Kerala. To promote and protect Karimeen fishery, scheme called “ KarimeenVarsam” has been launched and the scheme is implementing through FFDAs”.
7 a. Training Programme on cage culture for the women farmers of Poovar
Village.
A Training programme on finfish cage culture was conducted by RGIDS on 11th to 12th
October 2017. About twenty women farmers and entrepreneurs from poovar coast participated in the programme. Mr. Praveen Project fellow and Smt. N.S. Jayasree Technical Assistant RGIDS co- ordinated the training programme. Dr.Santhosh .Principal Scientist CMFRI has given an overall support for the programme. Dr.Premjth, Professor and Principal Investigator of RGIDS welcomed the esteemed guests and participants of the function. He has also mentioned about the importance of cage fish culture in Poovar.
30
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Fig 12. Orientation Programme in Poovar
The training Director Dr. K. Krishnakumar, Former farm Manager,
MatsyafedTrivandrum has given brief introduction about the training programme. The training has given emphasis on cage culture, small cages in estuaries, oyster culture and mussel culture.
The scientific experts from CMFRI have shared their knowledge on cage farming, health management in cage cultured fin fishes, nursery rearing of cage cultured fin fishes, water quality management and growth monitoring and cage mooring, cage management and net exchange.
Fig . 13 Orientation Programme in Poovar
31
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Cage fish farming – Extension work in collaboration with CMFRI
Central government subsidy programme of National Fisheries Development sponsored Cage fish farming program of CMFRI implements through RGIDS at Poovar for trained fisher.
Fig. 14. Implementation of NFDB – CMFRI Cage culture through RGIDS
32
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Fig. 15. CMFRI Research team visit RGIDS cage site.
7 b. Culture of Etroplus suratensis (Karimeen) through Cage Culture method
Construction of cages
Cage culture of fish utilizes existing water resources but encloses the fish in a cage or basket which allows water to pass freely between the fish and the pond permitting water exchange and waste removal into the surrounding water. Cages are used to culture several types of shell fish and finfish species in fresh, brackish and marine waters. Cages in freshwaters are used for food fish culture and for fry to fingerling rearing.
The floating cage device described in the present study is the first of its kind in Poovar back water and consists of a rectangular floating cage structure along with suitable netting materials for fin fish farming. The cage structure was made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) top support, inner and outer rings. The inner and outer collar had provisions for connecting outer predator, inner grow out and bird nets. There were HDPE vertical and diagonal supports for the
33
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
cage frame. The total weight of the cage frame was 1.5 kg. The floating cage structure and nets were designed and standardized in such a way to suit the current inundation of water level.
Fig 16. Cage designed and constructed by RGIDS
Fig 17. RGIDS cage culture unit in Poovar
Stocking density
Stocking density is decided by the characteristics of the fish under culture and on the natural productivity and the rate of ration given and the water flow. The vast range of variations found in the stocking densities followed is due to several factors in different aquatic conditions
34
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
and also based on the nature of the fish. An optimum density fore very species has to be maintained · for better production.
Fig.18. Etroplus seed stocking.
The effect of stocking density on the culture of E. suretensis has not been well studied in
Kerala. Therefore fingerlings of E. surenentsis were reared at two different stocking densities in cages having a size of 2x2x2 m3and moderate water flow (>0.05 m.second-) in Poovar estuary , to evaluate the effect of stocking density on survival rate , feed utilization and growth performance. Fingerlings of 1cm length were stocked at a density of 250 with mean weight of
1g. Aggressiveness and escape attempts routinely occurred in treatments with lowest stocking density while surface swimming was higher at the highest stocking density treatments.
Water quality at cage site
Gain in weight was recorded monthly while water quality parameters were recorded daily. Temperature of atmosphere and water ranged between 25-27o C and 22-25o C respectively, while pH and salinity ranged between 8.3 - 8.7 and 0.5ppt – 7.8ppt respectively. Maximum
35
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
salinity recorded during May 2019. TDS and conductivity values ranged between 0.9586 –
1.171 ppt and 1184.3 ųS – 1784.67 ųS respectively.
Table 3 . Physico-chemical parameters of culture site
Sl. Parameter November December January February March April May
No 2018 2018 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019
1 At.tem. 25 26 25 27 28 29 29
2 Wat. tem 22 23 24 25 26 26 26
3 pH 8.7 8.6 8.7 8.6 8.3 8.3 8.3
4 Salinity (ppt) 1.7 1 0.5 0.6 5.5 8.4 7.8
5 Conductivity (ųS) 1198 1250 1332.2 1193.75 1184.3 1784.67 1580.05
6 TDS (ppt) 1.057 1.0622 0.9667 0.958 0.8063 1.433 1.171
Supplemental feeds
Supplemental feeds having more than 40 percent of protein is used for feeding. Pelleted feeds are ideal and are used in the intensive culture particularly in back water cage culture. The fishes are fed with branded feed twice daily with 5% of total body weight.
Table 4. Specification of pellet feed.
36
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
The fish was observed to feed on the filamentous algae attached to the cage structure.
These observations indicate the role of pearlspot as “scraping” specie. An observation on behavioral condition of the fingerlings was also made. Aggressiveness and escape attempts routinely occurred in treatments with low stocking density while surface swimming was higher at the highest stocking density treatments.
Fig 19. Pellet Feed
Growth performance of Pearl spot in cage
Gain in weight was recorded bi weekly while water quality parameters except ammonia were recorded daily.
Table 5. Growth Performance of E. suratensis in relation to stocking density in Cage culture at Poovar - 2019
Month Growth (g)Cage 1 Growth (g)Cage 2
January 5.4 3.6
February 24 9.4
March 29.8 17
April 33.6 28.8
May 39.4 34.2
June 68.8 56.6
July 94 83
37
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Fig. 20. Growth Performance of E. suratensis in relation to stocking density in Cage culture at Poovar - 2019 100 90 80 70 60 50
40 Growth (g)Cage 1 Weight Weight (g) 30 Growth (g)Cage 2 20 10 0
Fig 21. Measurement of fish seed
38
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
Fig 22. Plotting of fish weight
Fig 23. Plotting of fish length
39
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
7 c. Culture of Milk fish, Chanos chanos
Experimental cage culture for Chanos chanos was initiated in Poovar back water.
Fig 24. Seed transportation and cage design for milk fish culture
40
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
8. SEMINAR / SYMPOSIA ATTENTED BY PI
1. The ASEAN Fisheries and Aquaculture Conference and Exposition 2016 and the 11th
Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum - from 3rd to 7th August 2016. Distribution and
accumulation of heavy metal in the sediment of Poovar estuary, Kerala, south west coast of
India with special reference to sustainable development. Bangkok International Trade &
Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Bangkok, Thailand invited for oral presentation.
2. 3rd International Conference on Fisheries and Aquaculture, Negambo, Sri Lanka from
24th to 25th August 2016. ‘Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in aquatic animals
collected from Poovar estuary, Kerala, south west coast of India’. (Oral presentation and
chaired a session).
3. Conservation and Management issues of AVM canal - Heritage for future generations.
Presented in the 4th Indian Biodiversity Congress, 10-12 March 2017, Pondycheeri
University, Puthussery.
4. National Science Day -Programme co-ordinator, sponsored by KSCSTE, Govt. of Kerala.
5. Rich fisheries - poor fisherfolk- a case study for the sustainable development of Poovar
fishing village, Trivandrum, Kerala – 2019, University of Kerala.
41
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
9. PAPERS PUBLISHED
1. Premjith, S, Prasanth and S. Jayasree, 2017, Endangered and Threatened Mangrove plant Barringtonia racemosa reported from Poovar South coat of India for Conservation Concern, J.Env.Bio-Sci.
2. Premjith, S, P. Praveen , Sai Sree , and P. Jayasree 2017. A Least concern mangrove species Sonneratia caseolaris reported from Poovar estuary, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Ajms vol.5 No 7 (ISSN: 2321-8819)
3. Premjith, S, P. Praveenprasannan and N.S Jayasree 2017"Fin fish resources of PoovarEstuary, south west coast of Kerala" Ajms vol 5 No 8 (ISSN 2321-8819)
4. Premjith, S, P. Praveen and S. Jayasree 2017, Conservation and Management issues of AVM canal - Heritage for future generations. Perspectives on Biodiversity of India - Volume III
5. Premjith, S and Saisree, K.G. 2018, Weak Supportive System and Livelihood Status among Fisherfolk in Poovar Fish Landing Centre, Kerala. IOSR-JHSS vol.23,(1) 7 pp.73- 83. eISSN: 2279-0837
42
KSCSTE Project Report 2019
10.REFERENCES
CMFRI. 2017. Annual Report 2016-17. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi. CMFRI. 2018. Annual Report 2017-18. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi. Gopakumar G and F.S. Sadasiva Sarma.,1989. The present status of coastal tuna fishery at Vizhinjam, Trivandrum coast.Vizhinjam Research Centre of CMFRI. Kripa V, T S Velayudhan ,Shoji joseph, P S Alloycious , M Joseph, P Radhakrishnan, and J Sharma., 2004. Clam fisheries of Vembanad Lake, Kerala with observations on the socio economic conditions of the clam fisheries. Mar.Fish.Info.Serv,T&E ser;No.179. pp:14-16 Luther G, G. Gopakumar and Madan Mohan., 1985. Tuna Live-Baitefish Investigations At Vizhinjam. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin-682 018, India, Proc. Symp. Coastal Aquaculture, 1984, 3 : 861-875 James, P.S.B.R. 1987. Seaweed research and utilization in India. CMFRI bulletin 41 : 1-116. Premjith, S 2010. Responsible fishing in India after tsunami- Self induced conservation package initiatives from fisher folk. Second International conference in Coastal Zone engineering and management. Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Nov. 1 – 7 Saleela K.N, A. P. Dineshbabu, B. Santhosh, M. K. Anil and C. Unnikrishnan., 2015. Shore seine fishery along Poovar in Thiruvananthapuram district, southwest coast of India . J. Mar. Biol. Ass. India, 57 (2) Sofiamma, M.A, S. Premjith, K. Dhevendran, P, Nadarajan, V, Sobha. 1991. Seaweed resources of Chowara along south west coast of India. Seaweed Res. Utili. 14 (1) : 53-60
43