World Journal of Fish and Marine Sciences 12 (1): 01-05, 2020 ISSN 2078-4589 © IDOSI Publications, 2020 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjfms.2020.01.05 Fishing Gear and Craft Used at Nijhum Dwip under Hatiya Upazila of Noakhali District, Bangladesh Md. Wahiduzzaman and Md. Robiul Hasan Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh Abstract: The study became performed to perceive the sorts of fishing gears, crafts, their availability and their mode of operation in fishing at Nijhum Dwip during the period from January to June 2019. Data were collected by key informants interview, questionnaire interview, crosscheck discussion and secondary sources. A total of 8 types of fishing gears and 2 types of crafts were identified among them fishing nets were categorized into 5 grouped based on their mode of operation or action and catching of fish including gill net, fixed purse net, seine net, cast net, framed/ dip net. Among them, 1 type of gill nets (illish jal/chandi jal), fixed purse nets (behundi jal), seine net (jogot ber jal), cast net (jhaki jal/khapla jal), framed or dip net (thela jal), hooks and lines (sip or barsi), traps (polo), fishing spears (teta) were found. Float and sinkers were used in nets where locally available materials made the float, sinker was made by iron and zinc alloy. Synthetic twines were used for net making and mending. No chemical or medicine was used; only the net was dried under the sun and put it on a safe and dry place. Two (2) types of fishing crafts were identified from the present study viz. chandi nauka and chooto trawler. Traditionally, fishers use woods (chapalish, telshur, mehe guni, rendi karai and kali korai), bamboos and irons to make their boats, which are locally available and was furnished by coal tar and burned oil. Most of the fishing operated boats are mechanized. The fisherman used some of the gears like ber jal and behundi jal, which were banned by the government. Majority of the boats have no licenses, which reflects a lack of awareness and law enforcement by the responsible authority. Key words: Fishing Gear Fishing Craft Nijhum Dwip INTRODUCTION important for its geographical location and vast fish diversity. This area is potential for capturing different In Bangladesh, fisheries are playing an essential types of fish. The people of this island lead their role in the economy and food security in our country. livelihood by cultivation and fishing. Various types of About more than 11% of the total populace of Bangladesh fishing crafts and gears are being used at the Nijhum are engaged with this sector in full time and part-time Dwip for commercial exploitation of the fishery basis for their livelihoods. It contributes 3.61% to our resources [2, 3]. national GDP and around one-fourth (24.41percent) Fishing gear is any form of device, put in force, tool to the agricultural GDP [1]. The fisheries sector plays or mechanical tool used to seize, acquire or harvest fish a primary source of animal protein for the rural poor. [4]. Fishing Craft includes specialized boat, ship or Fish supplements to about 60% of our daily animal protein other vessel used for fishing [4]. The essential classes of intake. It creates scope for employment opportunities, fishing gears which are historically used in Bangladesh food security, foreign incomes and socio-economic can be enumerated as the following: nets, fishing traps, improvement. hooks and contours, wounding gears and fish Nijhum Dwip is a small island under Hatiya Upazila. aggregation device [5]. Various varieties of substances It is situated at 21°35'0 N 92°01'0 E in Noakhali District in are used to make those fishing gears including netting, Bangladesh. In the past, it was called as Char Osmani, cord, plastic structural and fasteners, clips and swivels, Baluar Char and Golden Island. Nijhum Dwip is more ropes, metal wire ropes, combination twine ropes, Corresponding Author: Md. Robiul Hasan, Department of Fisheries and Marine Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali-3814, Bangladesh. E-mail: [email protected]. 1 World J. Fish & Marine Sci., 12 (1): 01-05, 2020 handbag jewellery, polyester, polyethene, nylon, cotton, by questionnaire interviews and personal communication polypropylene, combined fibres, floats and sinkers, from the study area. Crosscheck interviews were bamboo, wooden and many others [6]. The main types of conducted with key informants which include Upazila fishing craft that are traditionally used in Bangladesh are Fisheries Officer (UFO), District Fisheries Officers (DFO) Dinginauka, Chandinauka, Koshanauka and Shampan [4]. and other fishing related person for justification of the The shape and size of the gear and craft vary based on collected data. the purpose of the use and the environmental condition of the water body at Nijhum Dwip. For that, the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION knowledge about different types of gears and crafts is necessary. Moreover, using of Fishing Gear and Craft at The study showed that a wide variety of fishing Nijhum dwip have been poorly identified and there is a gears and crafts were operated throughout the year in the lack of information about Fishing Gear and Craft in Nijhum Nijhium Dwip for commercial fishing. A total of 8 types of dwip. Therefore, the comprehensive study is needed to fishing gears and two types of fishing crafts were identify the different types of fishing gears and crafts identified in the study area. All fishing nets were used in Nijhum dwip. categorized into five grouped based on their mode of operation or action and catching of fish including gill MATERIALS AND METHODS net, fixed purse net, seine net, cast net, framed/ dip net (Table 1). Study Area: The study area is Nijhum Dwip a small island under Hatiya Upazila at Noakhali District in Bangladesh Fishing Gears just 2 kilometres southwest of Hatiya under Noakhali Gill Net: Gill net is commonest fishing tackle employed district. Latitude is 22°02´30.89 N and Longitude is by the fishermen. These nets are erected in water 90°59´05.85 E. It is about 120 km south of Maijdee bazaar. column vertically perpendicular to the movement of fish. As the fish plan to swim through the mesh of the Period of the Study: The study was conducted for 6 (six) net, they become snagged their gill operculum and fins. months from January to June 2019. Primary and secondary The meshes of the nets vary 0.5-5cm. The gill nets are facts had been used for this study. used singly or in series. This is a passive gear. Gill nets are vertical walls of netting set out in the water column at Data Collection: Primary information was collected from a straight line by a series of floats attached to their upper fishers, direct statement of fishing gears at the time of edge (the float line or cork line) and the weights attached operation and the local fishing equipment marketplace. to their lower edge (the footrope or lead line). Catching Data about fishing gears and crafts size and shape, mesh ability depends on the movement or migration of the size of the gear, mode of operation, period of operation, fish through the area where the nets are set. One type of building materials, fish species caught, etc. were collected gill nets was operated in the study area like Illish jal/Chandi jal. Table 1: Various kinds of net operated for fishing in the Nijhium Dwip Number of people Construction Gear type Local name Mesh size (cm) needs to operate cost (BDT/net) Species caught Gill net Illish jal/Chandi jal 4-4.5 10 to 15 300000-400000 Hilsa, Poa, Air Fixed purse net Behundi jal 5 to 6.5 and 0.5to1.25 12-14 50000-200000 Chewa, Chiring, Koi, Poa, Bata, Gulsha, Bashpata, Boicha etc. Seine net Jogot ber jal 0.5 to 2.3 cm 10 200000 Pangas, Poa Hilsa, Bata, Koi, Air, Kalbasu and all fishes. Cast net Jhaki jal/Khapla jal 0.6to 0.75 cm 1 5000 - 10000 Bata, Koi, Pangas, Poa, Baila, Shol, Taki, Punti, Tengra, Baim and other small fish. Framed/ dip net Thela jal 0.2 to 1.0cm 1 200 - 1000 Koi, Baila, Shol, Taki, Punti, Tengra, Baim etc. 2 World J. Fish & Marine Sci., 12 (1): 01-05, 2020 Illish jal/Chandi Jal: Rectangular in shaped. The length ranges between 0.5 and 2.3 cm. The net is operated from of the net is 650 to 700 m and width is10 to 12 m having a shore and a ship. 10 people run one net. The construction mesh size between 4 and 4.5cm. Polyamide monofilaments, cost of this net, is about 200000 BDT/net. The net polypropylene or nylon rope, are used to construct the operates from both day and night. Fine mesh size Ber jal net although nylon twines are traditionally used for its catch fish irrespective of their size or species. The net is low cost and easy availability. Both floats and sinkers are more costly than other nets. The net catches Pangasius attached to the net. 10 to 15 persons are needed to handle pangasius, Otolithoides pama, Tenualosa ilisha, Labeo this net. The net drifts with the water current, which helps bata, Anabas testudineus, Mystus aor, Labeo calbasu to trap the gill of fish into the mesh. The construction cost and all other fishes. of this net is 300000-400000 BDT having a life span of 3 to 4 years. The net is operated from the boat and generally Cast Net: The net is made up of three parts: the upper used round the year except for the fish-banning period.