Indigenous techniques of catching the mud eel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Monopterus cuchia</i> (Ham.) in Goalpara district, Assam

Abstract

Fishing techniques for catching the mud eel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Monopterus cuchia </i>(Ham.) in Goalpara district, Assam was investigated during 2007-10 during the course of a base line survey conducted by the KVK Goalpara, Assam. The complexities of its habitat, behavior and life history characteristics, makes it difficult to catch the fish. Documentation on the fishing methods for catching the mud eel is scanty. This paper is an attempt to record the different technique employed traditionally by the ethnic communities of the district to catch the mud eel based on the information collected during the course of survey. The results revealed use of different wounding gears, ichthyotoxic plants, handline and traps. Wounding gears included spear, knives and sickle. Among plants, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Derris elliptica</i> (Wall.) Benth. and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Milletia pachycarpa </i>Benth. were used. Spindle shaped and cubical traps are commonly used by the common folks. Other method includes bunding and digging, and light fishing.