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A Study on the Fishing Gears and Socioeconomic Conditions of Fishing Communities of Teesta River Region

MD. FOGAEL HOSSAIN
Department of Fisheries Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Studies were conducted on the types and characteristics of fishing gears and socioeconomic conditions of fishing communities of the Teesta River region in Sundarganj upazilla under the district Gaibandha for a period of one year starting from December 2011 to November 2012. Face to face interviews, group discussions and direct visits were performed to collect and verify data. It was found that the fishermen harvested the fish using 22 types of fishing gears, in which the major group of fish nets operated were gill net, seine net, dragged net, cast net and lift net. The major traps were dheal, temai, polo, korpa etc, while major hooks and lines operated in the river were borsha, chhip borshi, dhela borshi. Seine net recorded the highest catch per unit effort (CPUE) (5-10 kg/gear/day) and fishing effort followed by the penti jal. During October to April, mainly seine net, current jal, chhip borshi and Katha fishery were used while from July to September fash jal, khora jal, thela jal and different types of traps were used by the fishermen. The study revealed that highest number of species was caught during July where there was lowest number of fish species recorded in January and February with a gradual rise during March and April. Out of 32 species of fishes recorded for different gears, the major fish species abundantly available were: Mystus aur (Air), M. tengara (Tengra), Mastacembelus armatus (Baim), Macrognathus pancalus (Guchi baim), Nandus nandus (Bheda), Glossogobius giuris (Baila), Puntius sarana (Sharputi). Fishing was regarded as the major source of income of the traditional fishermen but occasionally they undertook a variety of non-fishery activities, which constituted a substantial part of their annual income. Among 40 fishermen interviewed, 62.5% were below 30 years, 35% were between 30 and 40 years, and the remaining 27.5% were more than 40 years old, whereas 45%, 22.5% and 22.55 were found illiterate, semiliterate and educated up to primary level respectively with 10% fishermen had received secondary education. 60% house of the surveyed 40 families were tin shed with bamboo or other simple fencing. 22.5% households were tin shed with tin wall. 12.5% households were made of straw components and 5% households were tin shed building. 85% fishermen families have semi-pakka and 10% of the fishermen had no sanitary facilities. There were pakka sanitation in the 5% families. Income distribution showed significant inequality between marginal and nonmarginal fishermen from group fishing. It was observed that national and local NGOs provided credit only to the organized poor members to purchase fishing gears and boats but the amount of credit provided by the NGOs was insufficient and could not commensurate to the poor people’s actual need.

Keywords: FISHING GEARS, SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS, FISHING COMMUNITIES, TEESTA RIVER

Location: Sundarganj Upazilla, Gaibandha

Start Date: 00-12-2011

End Date: 00-11-2012

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Fish

Objectives:

1. To determine the types and characteristics of fishing gears operated in the Teesta River region
2. To study the catch composition and seasonality of operation of different fishing gears
3. To observe the livelihood status of fishermen in the study area

Methodology:

Location and description of the study area: The study area was the Teesta River and its adjacent floodplains which includes Tarapur, Belka, dahabanda, Shantiram, Kanchibari unions in the Sundarganj Upazilla of the district Gaibandha. There were ten places selected as sampling spots in these five unions. The Teesta River originates in the Himalayas and flows through the Indian States of Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh, where it flows into the Brahmaputra. The Teesta valley is rich in biodiversity, and the river provides livelihoods for the residents along its entire length of 393 km (245 miles). The Teesta earlier ran due south from Jalpaiguri in three channels, namely, the Karatoya to the east, the Punarbhaba in the west and the Atrai in the centre. The three channels possibly gave the name to the river as Trisrota "possessed of three streams". In the destructive floods of 1787, the Teesta River forsook its old channel and rushing south-east it joined the Brahmaputra. The entire lower Teesta consists of a network of channels, which is dry in the cold season but are inundated during the monsoon. It has numerous islands that are locally known as chars. During the monsoons, this humble river distends its banks; both in size and turbulence. Landslides in this region often dam up parts of the river in this season. The study was conducted in the area of Sundarganj upazilla of Gaibandha district where the river is running through the Tarapur union to the end of Belka union. During the field survey, different areas of the river, fish landing centers, fish markets and harvesting spots were visited. Period of the study: The study was conducted for a period of 12 months from December, 2011 to November, 2012. Data were collected personally through face to face interview on the basis of open questionnaire, group discussions and from the available literatures. Design and test of questionnaire: Before collecting the primary data, a set of interview schedule was developed which was pre-tested with few fishermen. In the test survey, much attention was given to any new information which was not designed in the questionnaire to be asked, but was important towards the objectives. According to the experience gained in the test survey, the final questionnaire was rearranged and modified. Thus final questionnaire was developed in logical sequence and attention was also given to avoid the lengthy interview with fisherman so that fishermen could answer easily without being bored. Although the questionnaires were prepared in English but the farmers were asked the questions Bengali during the interview. Data Collection: Data were collected in every 7 days interval during study period using the prepared questionnaires by face to face interviews and group discussions. The data on catch composition and species availability were collected from fish landing centers, markets and the fishing spots. The data on fishing gears such as mesh size, length, width, materials used in the preparation of gears, species selectivity, mode of operation, seasonality, manpower needed, other accessories etc. were collected from the fishing spots through face to face interviews. The data on the socio-economic conditions (housing conditions, occupational status, income, literacy and educational status, age and family members etc.) were collected from the fishermen anywhere they are met. Several visits were made to the fishing communities in Belka and Tarapur union where the actual conditions were justified. The review of secondary sources (empirical researches, various reports and documents etc.) included a review of concepts used in operation of studies on fishing gears and socio-economic conditions of fishermen to have some general views and concepts of the present study. Group discussions were used to collect primary data. This was an efficient and effective method for gathering unstructured information and subjective perceptions. In river side, the procedure was to first talk with village head and key informants to ask for organizing group discussions of experienced fishermen/women in that community and then identify a place and time appropriate for a group discussion. Data Analysis: After collecting the data through interviews and FGDs, it was necessary to check the information for justification of the collected data. Crosscheck interviews were conducted with key informants with Upazilla Fisheries Officer, NGO workers, School teachers, Chairman and Members of the Unions councils and fishermen. The data and information collected were systematically processed and then reduced to represent by figures and tables so that the findings of the study could be presentedin a meaningful way.

Source of Information: MS Thesis, Examination Roll No. 11 FT JJ-04M, Registration No. 33673, Session: 2006-2007, Semester: July-December, 2012, Department of Fisheries Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

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Achievement/Findings:

It was found that the fishermen harvested the fish using 22 types of fishing gears, in which the major group of fish nets operated were gill net, seine net, dragged net, cast net and lift net. The major traps were dheal, temai, polo, korpa etc, while major hooks and lines operated in the river were borsha, chhip borshi, dhela borshi. Seine net recorded the highest catch per unit effort (CPUE) (5-10 kg/gear/day) and fishing effort followed by the penti jal. During October to April, mainly seine net, current jal, chhip borshi and Katha fishery were used while from July to September fash jal, khora jal, thela jal and different types of traps were used by the fishermen. The study revealed that highest number of species was caught during July where there was lowest number of fish species recorded in January and February with a gradual rise during March and April. Fishing was regarded as the major source of income of the traditional fishermen but occasionally they undertook a variety of non-fishery activities, which constituted a substantial part of their annual income. Among 40 fishermen interviewed, 62.5% were below 30 years, 35% were between 30 and 40 years, and the remaining 27.5% were more than 40 years old, whereas 45%, 22.5% and 22.55 were found illiterate, semiliterate and educated up to primary level respectively with 10% fishermen had received secondary education. 60% house of the surveyed 40 families were tin shed with bamboo or other simple fencing. 22.5% households were tin shed with tin wall. 12.5% households were made of straw components and 5% households were tin shed building. 85% fishermen families have semi-pakka and 10% of the fishermen had no sanitary facilities. There were pakka sanitation in the 5% families. Income distribution showed significant inequality between marginal and nonmarginal fishermen from group fishing. It was observed that national and local NGOs provided credit only to the organized poor members to purchase fishing gears and boats but the amount of credit provided by the NGOs was insufficient and could not commensurate to the poor people’s actual need.

Knowledge Management: Thesis