Study of Traditional Fishing Crafts And Gears used in the Lower Reaches of achenkovil And Pamba Rivers in Alleppey District, Kerala.

Abstract- Knowledge of fishing gear, crafts and fishing methods is very essential for scientific and judicious exploitation and management of fishery resources. The study aimed to explore different types of gears and crafts used and the fish species caught by the gears in the lower reaches of Pamba and Achenkovil rivers in Alappuzha district of Kerala. Four sampling centers were chosen namely, Kuttanad and Parumala in Pamba River and Karichal and Prayikkara in Achenkovil river. Data were collected from local fishermen through on the spot inspections, Personal Interview. Total Three types of fishing crafts namely wooden crafts, wooden boats coated with FRP and FRP boats were found. FRP boats formed 82% and 79% in the stations studied in the Pamba and Achenkovil rivers respectively. Wooden boats formed contributed 8% and 12% in Pamba and Achankovil river respectively. 10 & 7% of the boats were made up of Wood coated with FRP. Total of 219 boats were surveyed out of 398. Mango tree planks were used for wooden boat building. In Pamba river cast net, seine nets, Hook and line, Bow and Arrow, Blow pipe, Trident Spear, Simple fish stick guns, and Traps were used for catching the fishes. In Achankovil 3 types of gear viz., gill net, cast net and seine nets were observed. Among the fishing gears, gill net being the dominant gear followed by seine net and cast net in Achenkovil. The main catches of Pamba and Achenkovil river consists of L. dussumieri, W. attu, E. suratensis, A. microlepis, Gebilion catla, Puntius sarana, Channa marulius, etc.