The study entitled A census of artisanal marine fishing fleet of Kerala, conducted by South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies (SIFFS) was done in 1998-'99. SIFFS conducted a census survey of the artisanal marine fishing fleet in 1998 and compared the figures with those of the 1991 survey, which was conducted by the organisation.
Data were collected in the 1998 survey through (i) household enumeration of crafts, gears, and out-board motors (OBM); (ii) interviews with fishermen and key informants; and (iii) physical count of crafts seen in the beach. The survey has produced data for the different levels: village/panchayat, district, and State. The comparison of 1998 data with those of 1991 has enabled the researchers to capture the dynamics of the artisanal fishery of Kerala.
The study has shown that though the number of fishing crafts has come down nominally, excess capacity and over-capitalisation has become a grave problem in the traditional fishing sector. It has recommended regulation of the use of OBMs and an increased supply of kerosene at moderate prices to the fishermen. It has also warned that the rising trend in the use of Mini Trawl and the spread of ring seine are dangerous signals of threat to the very sustainability of fishery and suggested prohibition of this gear.
In the study Artisanal selective deep-sea fisheries: problems and prospects, Tito D'Cruz discusses the problems and prospects of the famous shark fishery of Thuthoor. It shows that traditional fishermen are not only capable of doing deep-sea fishing, but that they are capable of doing it more efficiently than deep-sea trawlers as well. Moreover, this study throws light on the possibilities of diversification of fishing effort in a fishery that experiences severe fishing pressure on the coastal waters.The study is mainly based on primary data. As it covers both the bio-economics of deep-sea fishing and the socio-economics of the fishermen, the methodology consists of survey of deep-sea fishing, crafts, and fishermen households. Interviews with experienced fishermen and key informants have also been conducted.
The major findings of the study are the following: Technology employed in deep-sea fishing by Thuthoor fishermen is traditional because mechanical power is used only for propulsion; the fishing operation is done manually using traditional gears like gill nets, long lines, and hand lines; Their practice is selective fishing because only bigger fish is caught, thanks to the large mesh size of the nets and the big size of the hooks used. Therefore, the technology, which precludes juveniles from the catch, is ecologically sustainable.
Since it constitutes a fishing method that requires high levels of skills, it remains confined to a group, which inherits the skill. Therefore, this technology cannot be easily replicated; artisanal deep-sea fishing is a more profitable venture than deep-sea trawler fishing.
The study entitled Labour mobility, work organisation, and features of village-based small-scale fishing in Kerala carried out by PCO research team headed by J. B. Rajan analyses the nature and causes of labour mobility in the traditional fishery sector of Kerala.
Though labour mobility is a common phenomenon in the Kerala fishery with widespread ramifications, no analytical study on the topic is available. The study was conducted in three selected coastal villages of Thiruvananthapuram district. Such tools as Focus Group Discussions, Life History Analysis, and Rapid Rural Appraisal and semi-structured interviews were used in addition to household survey.
Different types of labour mobility are observed in the fishery sector of Kerala: Commutation, circulation, and migration are the three major types. Commutation is very common. Circulation may be divided into short-term circulation and long-term circulation. Natural factors like climate and condition of the sea are the factors that cause short-term circulation. Long-term circulation is more dependent on technological factors. Inter-generational mobility is found to be very low.
More than 80 per cent of the present generation of fishermen is born fishermen. Inter-sectoral mobility also remains low due to lack of occupational and industrial diversification of the local economy. Unless alternative employment opportunities arise in the coastal belt, inter-sectoral mobility will be meagre and fishing pressure will steadily mount in the area.
R. V. Jose and P. M. Thomas in a study under the title Socio-economic profile of inland fishermen and problems and prospects of inland fishing in Kuttanadu region - a case study of Neelamperoor have discussed the problems and prospects of the inland fishing sector in a selected region. The study focuses on the crisis being faced by the rising number of inland fishermen and the dwindling quantity of fish production.
The important factors contributing to the crisis are found to be the following: ongoing reclamation of inland water bodies; illegal fishing practices like fishing with tiny-mesh-nets, dynamite fishing, fishing during hightide and water pollution from factory discharges, fertiliser-pesticide residues from the paddy-fields, and domestic waste.The fishermen remain marginalised from the development track of the State. A comprehensive inland fishery policy, reconsideration of the dismal developmental interventions made by the State like the Thanneermukkom salt water barrier and rejuvenation of the fish wealth by ranching, are among the major suggestions forwarded by the study.
Conflicts in biodiversity conservation: the issues of traditional tribal fisheries in Periyar Tiger Reserve is a study related to inland fishery which provides a vivid picture of the livelihood strategies of tribesfolk. Apart from the usual analysis of the use value of fishes, this study made by Centre for Environment and Development focuses on the non-use value of certain endemic and threatened fish species in the biodiversity hot spot of Periyar River Reserve.
When such fisheries are subjected to commercial fishing as a means to protect the livelihoods of tribesfolk, conflicts of objectives arise in relation to conservation. The methodology of the study consisted of reconnaissance survey of the tribal settlement, socio-economic survey of sample households of tribesfolk and biological study of selected fish samples.
According to the study, the best way to conserve the threatened fish species of the study area is to reduce the fishing pressure by enhancing the agricultural income of the tribesfolk by establishing fish marketing co-operatives that fetch better price for the fish they catch. Use of nets with tiny mesh and fishing the juveniles are to be prohibited. Regulations like introduction of area closure and seasonal closure of fishery and an effective monitoring of the aquatic system are also recommended.
P. Anilkumar deals with the Culture Fishery of Kerala. In his study on options for Aquaculture development in Kerala, three important aspects of aquaculture are discussed: technology, marketing, and institutional assistance. A detailed discussion is made of the developmental interventions by the various governmental and semi-governmental agencies in the propagation of aquaculture. A few case studies on the culture of fresh water prawns, brackishwater prawns, and carps are also given. D. Nandakumar looks into Coasts and coastal communities. His concern is with the impact of infrastructure development on their resources. His is a geo-environmental enquiry.