Perceived effectiveness of indigenous traditional fishing methods including gears and traps in Nagaon district of Assam

Abstract

A total of 26 traditional fishing practices in Nagaon district of Central Assam were selected. Scientific rationality and adoption among fishers regarding these ITKs were analysed and five ITKs were identified as not rationale or unsustainable practices which should not be promoted. Then, the perceived effectiveness of the remaining 21 selected ITK was analysed. Of the 21 ITKs studied for effectiveness, 12 practices (46.15%) were rational and effective. Of these, high mean PEI values were obtained by ITK 6, 12, 17 and 18 (MPEI score is 2.87, 2.68, 2.75 and 2.54, respectively) and stood as highly effective (15.38 %). Five practices were adopted by more than 50% of the farmers and except ITK-6 all these ITKs were perceived as highly effective, implying that many indigenous practices were both rational as well as effective. This calls for more scientific intervention to validate the indigenous knowledge, which in turn would enrich our fisheries technology. Objective of the study is to explore the logics of prevalent traditional fishing practices among fishers of Nagaon district, central Assam.