Traditional fishing techniques of tribes in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh – A paper in the Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

Tribal habitat and rich primitive culture covers many traditions and fish is an integral part of the tribal food habit since times immemorial in this region. The life of tribes mainly depends on naturally available foods which can rarely be reaped in other places. The fishing techniques are specialized according to structure, size of stream, season and species of fishes intended to be harvested.

Participatory research tools such as group discussion, semi-structured interviews, key informant survey and on-site observation were used to document the fish harvesting practices followed by tribes. At the fishing sites, the authors relied on direct observations of the construction of devices and procedures followed in harvesting of the fishes, whereas in rainy season, fishing was observed by going to farm lands, seasonal ponds, dug wells and small streams.

During rainy season, many types of fishing net, fishing gears, bamboo frame, etc, are commonly used in both running as well as stagnant water. These are locally known as Jali, Gari, Pelna, Thapa, Bisar, Dandar, Sodiya, etc and are widely adopted in small to large flow of water for individual to collective form of fishes.

The paper can be downloaded below:

Post By: Amita Bhaduri
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