Indigenous fishing techniques and fish aggregating practices among the Monsang community in Chandel district of Manipur, India

Abstract

Traditional knowledge (TK) plays a vital role in sustaining the livelihoods of indigenous communities and conserving local aquatic resources. In biodiversity rich regions such as Northeast India, there is an urgent need to document traditional fishing practices that are rapidly declining due to modernization and ecological change. The Monsang community of Chandel district, Manipur, has practiced various indigenous fishing techniques since time immemorial, drawing on deep ecological understanding of hill-stream ecosystems. The present study documents three traditional fishing methods: (i) Thingnharhuvuw, (ii) Peh-ethur, and (iii) Chiipin/Chiiping, practiced in Japhou and Monsang Pantha villages based on field surveys conducted using snowball sampling and semi-structured interviews. Thingnharhuvuw functions as a fish aggregating device using leafy branches, Peh-ethur involves group-based net dragging in shallow river stretches, while Chiipin/Chiiping employs bamboo barriers and traps to guide fish movement. These techniques reflect community-based, seasonally regulated, and low-cost fishing practices adapted to local ecological conditions. Documentation of such indigenous techniques is essential for preserving cultural heritage and informing sustainable fisheries management at the local level.