Appendix 10 Training for Fishermen and Boat Builders on Fishing Gears and Crafts

The economic condition of fishermen can be improved to a considerable extent by increasing the fishing efficiency of gears and crafts used by them for fishing as well as by protecting the fish stocks from illegal fishing. The fishing gears and crafts used by them at present are not so efficient as compared to modern gears and crafts. There is ample scope to improve the fishing efficiency of the gears by adjusting optimum mesh-size, diameter of the twine, hanging co-efficient and by using improved tanning and colouring materials. Efficiency of the crafts can also be improved following appropriate design with well-seasoned timbers or woods and with proper tanning materials.

There are a good number of gears harmful to commercially important fish stocks, at least in particular season of the year. The fishermen killed about 3456 ton of jatka (2-5 months old juvenile hilsa) only in the Meghna river in the year 1990 by using illegal gears. Besides hilsa stock, other fish stocks e.g., major carp stocks are also greatly being affected by the use of these illegal nets. Banning of these illegal gears is urgently needed for the proper management and conservation of fish stocks in order to ensure sustained yield. Therefore, to improve the situation it is imperative to educate and motivate the fishermen through a series of training programmes for generating awareness about the detrimental effects of the use of illegal fishing gears vis-a-vis the benefits of efficient gear use.

The traditional boat builders should also be imparted training on the improved designing, tanning, seasoning and construction of crafts for improving the efficiency of crafts.

To begin with, a comprehensive programme to train the trainers (TOT) should be undertaken to impart theoretical and practical knowledge about the fishing technology, specially on the types of gears and their beneficial and harmful effects on fish stock, modern gears and crafts and their operations, net making, webbing, gear preservatives and colour use. These potential trainers (who will participate in the TOT as trainees) may be picked up from amongst the scientific officers of Fisheries Research Institute and extension workers of DOF and NOGs. To facilitate the training programme and to make it more effective, the package of training materials and the training manuals are needed to be developed well ahead the programme. This will be followed by a series of training programmes to be arranged at the different stations of Fisheries Research Institute. After this training, the trainees will act as trainers and will arrange training programme for the fishermen in batches both in FRI research stations and in other locations where it is feasible. Since, the fishermen are mostly uneducated the training programmes are to be supported by audio-visual aids after every lecture. Different types of poster, leaf let, pamphlet, flash card etc. as well as short cultural programmes based on folk tradition are to be developed as extension materials for the trainees.

Training programmes should also be arranged for the traditional boat builders on the improved designing and construction of crafts and on the seasoning and tanning of woods used for boat making. A tentative training programme has been outlined on fishing gears and crafts for the trainers and trainees.

A Tentative Training Programme on Fishing Gears and Crafts for Trainers and Trainees.

Topics to be Discussed