New purse seine nets changing fishing practices in State

K.S. Sudhi

Increased mesh size yielding better catch

RICH HARVEST: Fishermen bringing to the vessel the fish they caught using the modified purse seine fishing net.

Kochi: Purse seine nets and its smaller version ring seine may be the most criticised fishing gears in Kerala. The nets were known as ``adakkom kolli'' (total destructor) in local parlance as they caused widespread destruction to fish wealth due to the small mesh size of the net. Even the juveniles of fishes could not escape the net due to the mesh size ranging between 10 mm and 20 mm.

Now the purse seine nets are making a comeback in the fishing sector of Kochi with changes in mesh size and yielding improved catches. The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Kochi, has come up with a suggestion for changes in the mesh size of the net that has found acceptance among the fishing community of Kochi.

It was at the request of Manassery Matsya Thozhilali Vikasana Kshema Sahakarana Sanghom in 2004 that the institute started working on improving the net and making it suitable for netting hitherto untapped fish varieties.

"The result was encouraging as the catches and revenue went up nearly three fold," said Vincent Panackkal, one of the group members that started using the net first.

"The sanghom approached the institute in 2004 with a request for technical advice that could salvage the purse seine boats which were facing hard times. It was at this juncture that the fishing technology division of the institute suggested the modifications in the net and supported fishermen to use the new one," said K. Devadasan, director of the institute.

The number of purse seine boats in Kochi had come down drastically. According to available information, the number of such vessels was 17 in 2000-2003 period. Earlier, nearly 100 such vessels operated in Kochi alone.

"At first the fishermen were a bit sceptical about the new net and there were issues related to the balance of the net. Now with the modified version, the catch has increased and that too, of high value fish with bigger sizes, more fishermen are coming forward to use the net," said B. Meena Kumari, head of the division. She was assisted by P. Pravin of the division in modifying the net.

"With the net having increased mesh size, we got mackerels, tuna and even black pomfrets during the last season. These are some of the untapped segments in which we are focusing now," said Mr. Panakkal.

According to information reaching the institute, at least four fishermen have opted for this net in 2005 while some others have placed orders with Matsyafed for the new nets. Each net costs around Rs.8 lakhs and the vessels using these nets require at least 25 fishermen for the operation.

The new version of Purse seine should be considered as a conservation measure as it will not net juveniles. At the same time, it also ensures good income to the fishermen making the fishing activity with purse seine nets profitable, said Mr. Devadasan.

While being enthusiastic about the success of the new adaptation of the once decried fishing net, the fisheries experts cautioned that the unregulated use of the gear could be destructive as well.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/19/stories/2006061919340300.htm