Traditional fish trapping devices and methods in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam

Abstract

An investigation was made on the availability of different types of fish trapping implements in the Brahmaputra valley with an objective to study their respective dimensions, seasonal variation, abundance, catch, cost, variability of gears with species, season and their mode of operation. The identified fish traps can be classified into 28 different types of 5 major categories based on the principle of capture, design, and operational methods. These traps vary widely in shapes from conical, cylindrical, pyramidal to rectangular shaped mostly made of fine screen work made of slender splits of bamboo.