Fish Diversity: The Basis for Promotion of Fisheries in Tribal Areas

The paper is written to generate discussion among the stakeholders n the types of fisheries that needs to be promoted in tribal areas given the degree of existing fish diversity in the area and their preference for local fish variety.

1. Aquaculture

Aquaculture refers to practice of fish farming that cultures fish in controlled water bodies under controlled conditions and management. Aquaculture practices imply that a pond is dedicated to conduct culture fisheries through implementation of a package of practices that are intensive and that aim at maximizing production from the pond. The practice of capture fisheries in reservoirs implies that fishes are caught as against harvested.

Poly-culture is a method of introducing seeds of more than one species of fish; generally to take in to account the surface, the middle and the bottom dwellers. The recommended fish for these zones are rohu, catla, carp and mrigal. Presently tribals are not practicing systematic poly culture though with capacity building and hand holding support these fishers can practice poly culture fishery in selected water bodies.

2. Fish Diversity

Fish diversity means all the different species of fish that are found to be present in the water body. Each of the ponds in the area has a wide range of fish species. It is estimated that on an average each pond will have at least 30 fish species. And the tribal fishers are catching each of the species and bringing them to their plate. The species identified so far include:

क.	अलीराजपुर	क.	धार	क.	झाबुआ
1	कनेवरी	1	नवालिया	1	घिन्चु/घंसूर
2	गंबुसिया	2	कनेवरी	2	फुदडी
3	घिन्चु/घंसूर	3	फुदडी	3	दोदडू
4	घिरेमन्टी	4	डोग	4	कटीयो
5	डोग	5	डुकलिया	5	घेसो
6	डुकलिया	6	मलीयो	6	सालेग्डी
7	मलीयो	7	सिदंडे	7	डुकलिया
8	फफडो	8	घेवरा	8	मलीयो
9	घेवरा	9	गेहल	9	घेवरी
10	गेहल	10	टितोना	10	सिदंडे
11	दोदडू	12	चोचट	11	खरपटी
		13	झरु	12	ढोकले
		14	ठेस मुंडा	13	घेवरा
		15	बगरन	14	गेहल
		16	झिंगला
		17	सिंगाल
		18	बावड़ी
		19	खरिया
		20	झुनलुर
		21	गुरकुच

3. Present Policy

The predominant model of aquaculture proposed and implemented is based on promotion of three/four species (Rohu, Katla, Mrigual, Carp) and all the economic returns are calculated based on the normative values of production in proportion to the seed stock introduced in the pond. These species are preferred essentially by urban consumer and it has dominated the major policy prescription for growth of fisheries in the region.

The fact is that tribals in the region are catching these varieties of fish throughout the year depending on their seasonal availability in small ponds. Moreover each tribal catches fish that would suffice for their household. A very small quantity of local fish is sold in the market.

The present policy for promotion of aquaculture does not take in to account the need and preference of tribals. They have the knowledge and the wherewithal to catch local varieties of fish in the region. Given the context we propose that the whole range of fish species (local as well as the introduced fish species) be viewed as part of the poly culture practices and that the government support should be to strengthen the fish diversity in these ponds.

4. Region and Tribal Specific Promotion of Fishery

The aim should be to develop climate resilience small inland fishers that contribute towards the achievement of livelihood security of the small and marginal farmers that take up fisheries as secondary income generating activity. There interventions through which the fish diversity and income generating needs of the fishers will be targeted:

(a) Development/restoration of fish habitat

Fish diversity is directly dependent on the quality of fish habitat. The habitat refers to the fauna surrounding the water body as well as aquatic fauna. Availability of fauna will ensure promotion of local variety of fish as it will get habitat for arriving at the water body and food for its continued existence.

(b) Tapping in to dry fish and small fish market

Local fish is sold in the market as well as after drying as dried fish. The price of the local/dried fish is more than that of rohu, catla, carp or mrigal. All local markets have vendor that sell these fishes. Moreover these fishes are consumed by tribal consumers on a regular basis.

(c) Optimising/balancing intensity of rohu, catla, carp and mrigal culture

Seed enhancement of these varieties of fish will not be based on the quantities recommended for aquaculture practices. It will be at low intensity to enable the fishers to sell the fish captured in the pond in the local market.

(d) Developing a local fish atlas and database

Fish atlas of local fish variety be developed and the data base on their availability within the region be prepared. This will enable tracking the diversity of species in the region and give early warning for species that are getting endangered.

(e) Exploring possibility of fish hatchery for local fish varieties so that their stock can be increased

Piloting development of hatchery of local variety of fish species so their stock is maintained and enhanced in the region. The hatchery can be run by women’s group on commercial basis.

(f) Pond modification to suit conduct of intensive aquaculture and wild fisheries

Selected ponds can be modified in manner where a part of the pond is physically demarcated for intensive aquaculture. Different forms of aquaculture, eg cage culture can be practices in one portion of the pond where as the remaining portion can be used for development of wild fisheries.