607
try to operate almost all types of gears as are
operated by the professional fi shermen. In addition, they have a tendency to practise certain
aquacultural techniques.
28.3.4 Professional Fishermen
This is the largest group among the fi shing communities in Sone Beel constituting c 70 % of the
total fi shermen population around the Beel. Both
poor and rich fi shermen belong to this group.
They fi sh throughout the year with the help of
diverse types of fi shing gears and devices without
any restriction or reservation of fi shing sites.
However, they have a tendency of operating some
of the sophisticated and little mechanised fi shing
gears, and they are proud of being identifi ed as
operators of certain specifi c gears, e.g. professional fi shermen belonging only to the Kaibarta
community operate the Maha jal, Chat jal,
Ghuran jal and Haran jal. Similarly, professional
fi shermen belonging only to the Patni community
operate the Kuchrung jal and the Dorar jal. Also,
professional fi shermen belonging only to the
Maimal community operate the Chhat jal and the
Rekh jal. Although the bamboo cage traps and
the bamboo barricades are used by almost all the
categories of fi shermen, the professional fi shermen
belonging to the Namasudra community operate
only the bamboo-made cage traps of different
kinds, e.g. Dori, Paran, Gui, Polo and Runga.
However, the Namasudras also sometimes operate the Lar Barshi in Sone Beel. The catches by the
professional fi shermen include a rich diversity and
quantity of fi shes, notably the IMCs, the exotic
carps, Puntius spp., Salmophasia bacaila, Danio
spp., Botia dario, Mystus vittatus, Aorichthys
spp., Wallago attu, Eutropiichthys vacha, Channa
spp., Chanda nama, Mastacembelus armatus,
Macrognathus spp., etc. Their catches also include
a large number of juveniles. The professional
category of fi shermen often become nomadic.
They construct temporary thatched fi shing huts
and lead camp life on high grounds around the
Beel. They spend days together on boats and rafts
while continuing fi shing in the Beel as well as in
the inlets and outlets of the Beel.
28.3.5 Socio-economics
of the Fisherfolk Population
of Sone Beel
In India, fi shing is generally considered as a low
category profession. However, in Sone Beel, it is
the principal way of earning livelihood by the
poor fi shermen. The entire water spread area of
the Beel is used for intensive fi shing both on
domestic and commercial scales by operating
different types of fi sh catching devices which
have been mentioned earlier. Of these fi shing
gears, all but Pelain are of commercial types.
Jhaki jal and Paran are sometimes found in
domestic use as well. CPGH (Catch/Person/Gear/
Hour: Dey 1981 ) of the principal gears, operated
by the fi shermen of Sone Beel and calculated on
the basis of 12 months’ moving average method
(Coxton and Cowden 1950 ), indicates that Dori
is the most effi cacious and is sequentially followed by Jhaki jal, Haran jal, Ghuran jal, Patan
jal, Chat jal, Lar barshi and Maha jal. Use of fi nemeshed nets involving catch of juveniles, which is
seen to be in vogue in Sone Beel, causes concern.
Lack of proper training of the fi shermen in professional fi shing regulations coupled with tremendous
amount of poverty vis-à-vis not much rehabilitation measures being taken for them till date seem
to be some of the impelling causes for use of
banned nets and devices by the poor fi shermen.
Further, in the absence of any large-scale welfare
measures being undertaken for them till today,
the poor fi shermen are compelled to remain in the
grip of unscrupulous ‘middlemen’. Consequently,
the per capita income (PCI) of the fi shermen is
low and ranges from Rs. 1.30 to Rs. 8.25 (mean:
Rs. 3.83 ± 2.14) according to the 1981 census.
Their poverty is further aggravated by their early
marriage and big family size. Low level of life
expectancy ( c 55 years) and high rate of child
mortality ( c 10 % per year) also refl ect their state
of distress. Poor adult literacy (10–20 %) may be
considered as the principal factor of their fi nancial hardship. Juvenile literacy, though higher
( c 60–70 %), is soon followed by increased percentage of dropouts. Consequently, responsible
earning members are very meagre, and the grip of
poverty lingers on in the community.
28.3 Wetland Fishermen Exemplifi ed from a Typical Wetland in Asia…
try to operate almost all types of gears as are
operated by the professional fi shermen. In addition, they have a tendency to practise certain
aquacultural techniques.
28.3.4 Professional Fishermen
This is the largest group among the fi shing communities in Sone Beel constituting c 70 % of the
total fi shermen population around the Beel. Both
poor and rich fi shermen belong to this group.
They fi sh throughout the year with the help of
diverse types of fi shing gears and devices without
any restriction or reservation of fi shing sites.
However, they have a tendency of operating some
of the sophisticated and little mechanised fi shing
gears, and they are proud of being identifi ed as
operators of certain specifi c gears, e.g. professional fi shermen belonging only to the Kaibarta
community operate the Maha jal, Chat jal,
Ghuran jal and Haran jal. Similarly, professional
fi shermen belonging only to the Patni community
operate the Kuchrung jal and the Dorar jal. Also,
professional fi shermen belonging only to the
Maimal community operate the Chhat jal and the
Rekh jal. Although the bamboo cage traps and
the bamboo barricades are used by almost all the
categories of fi shermen, the professional fi shermen
belonging to the Namasudra community operate
only the bamboo-made cage traps of different
kinds, e.g. Dori, Paran, Gui, Polo and Runga.
However, the Namasudras also sometimes operate the Lar Barshi in Sone Beel. The catches by the
professional fi shermen include a rich diversity and
quantity of fi shes, notably the IMCs, the exotic
carps, Puntius spp., Salmophasia bacaila, Danio
spp., Botia dario, Mystus vittatus, Aorichthys
spp., Wallago attu, Eutropiichthys vacha, Channa
spp., Chanda nama, Mastacembelus armatus,
Macrognathus spp., etc. Their catches also include
a large number of juveniles. The professional
category of fi shermen often become nomadic.
They construct temporary thatched fi shing huts
and lead camp life on high grounds around the
Beel. They spend days together on boats and rafts
while continuing fi shing in the Beel as well as in
the inlets and outlets of the Beel.
28.3.5 Socio-economics
of the Fisherfolk Population
of Sone Beel
In India, fi shing is generally considered as a low
category profession. However, in Sone Beel, it is
the principal way of earning livelihood by the
poor fi shermen. The entire water spread area of
the Beel is used for intensive fi shing both on
domestic and commercial scales by operating
different types of fi sh catching devices which
have been mentioned earlier. Of these fi shing
gears, all but Pelain are of commercial types.
Jhaki jal and Paran are sometimes found in
domestic use as well. CPGH (Catch/Person/Gear/
Hour: Dey 1981 ) of the principal gears, operated
by the fi shermen of Sone Beel and calculated on
the basis of 12 months’ moving average method
(Coxton and Cowden 1950 ), indicates that Dori
is the most effi cacious and is sequentially followed by Jhaki jal, Haran jal, Ghuran jal, Patan
jal, Chat jal, Lar barshi and Maha jal. Use of fi nemeshed nets involving catch of juveniles, which is
seen to be in vogue in Sone Beel, causes concern.
Lack of proper training of the fi shermen in professional fi shing regulations coupled with tremendous
amount of poverty vis-à-vis not much rehabilitation measures being taken for them till date seem
to be some of the impelling causes for use of
banned nets and devices by the poor fi shermen.
Further, in the absence of any large-scale welfare
measures being undertaken for them till today,
the poor fi shermen are compelled to remain in the
grip of unscrupulous ‘middlemen’. Consequently,
the per capita income (PCI) of the fi shermen is
low and ranges from Rs. 1.30 to Rs. 8.25 (mean:
Rs. 3.83 ± 2.14) according to the 1981 census.
Their poverty is further aggravated by their early
marriage and big family size. Low level of life
expectancy ( c 55 years) and high rate of child
mortality ( c 10 % per year) also refl ect their state
of distress. Poor adult literacy (10–20 %) may be
considered as the principal factor of their fi nancial hardship. Juvenile literacy, though higher
( c 60–70 %), is soon followed by increased percentage of dropouts. Consequently, responsible
earning members are very meagre, and the grip of
poverty lingers on in the community.
28.3 Wetland Fishermen Exemplifi ed from a Typical Wetland in Asia…