Author: Simran Prasad
The highlights are:
- Scientists examined fishermen’s perceptions of current fishing practices and management techniques in India.
- 86% of fishermen perceived a decline in the overall catch, and 69% perceived a decline in bycatch efforts.
- Fishermen are unable to adopt sustainable practices due to unproductive community and state regulations.
- The authors advocate the enforcement of local fishing regulations and curtailing existing government incentives to enable sustainability of local fisheries.
Globally, marine fishing is a lucrative industry, estimated at USD 100 billion, with seafood comprising 19% of human protein consumption worldwide. Fisheries are open-access in nature and are susceptible to oversights in regulation, monitoring, and management. These oversights can have repercussions, resulting in failure to evaluate the actual status of stocks and fisheries. In India, although marine exports have increased over the last 50 years, previous research has indicated a substantial decline in fish stocks due to inconsistent knowledge about fishing practices. The observed inconsistencies, coupled with a lack of scientific knowledge and ecological baselines, impede opportunities that encourage sustainable fishing practices. Therefore, the authors explored people’s perceptions of local fisheries management and current practices.
Scientists from the Centre for Wildlife Studies and the National Centre for Biological Sciences provided baseline data on social and economic drivers that influence fishermen’s perceptions, specifically the state of fish stocks, current fishing practices and management, and existing legal regulations. Data was collected through questionnaires with 352 fishermen living within villages across three districts in India: Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu and Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts in Maharashtra. The questionnaire covered demographics, fishing vessels, distance traveled, frequented fishing areas, perceptions of change in catch, and willingness to change.
Fishermen perceptions varied between Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, with 73% of respondents in Tamil Nadu perceiving a decrease in lower economic value species (less preferred species), compared to 65% of respondents in Maharashtra. The authors concluded that characteristics, such as experience, income, religion, and receipt of government schemes were all drivers of perception. Fishermen also indicated a need for further subsidies, enabling them to provide for their families.
Fig 1. Fishermen at work in Tamil Nadu (credit: Nithi Anand)
The study indicates that fishermen across both states have perceived a decline in total catch, and have, therefore, modified their fishing practices. Provided there were more profitable options, fishermen who spent more time at sea were more open to changing their fishing practices. Modifying government involvement in fisheries was highlighted as an essential management tool, as better compliance with government regulations by fishermen could encourage more sustainable practices. The study highlights strategies to create sustainable fisheries. Firstly, revising government schemes would motivate fishermen to view sustainable fishing practices as an attractive alternative. Secondly, fishermen would comply with existing regulations if appropriate government authorities supported them.
The study concluded that conservation interventions should empower local fishing communities to monitor and regulate their fisheries. Fishermen’s perceptions are important, and by identifying drivers of perception and methods of intervention, the fishing industry can encompass sustainable long-term fishing practices.
Original research article: Karnad, D., Gangal, M., & Karanth, K. (2014). Perceptions matter: How fishermen’s perceptions affect trends of sustainability in Indian fisheries. Oryx, 48(2), 218-227. doi:10.1017/S0030605312001251
You can access the original article here.
