Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

ndigenous knowledge used in the gill net fishery practised along the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra, India

Volume 68 Issue 1

S. B. Adkar, V. H. Nirmale, S. Y. Metar, M. B. Shetkar, S. S. Suryawanshi and A. U. Pagarkar

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2026.68.1.2675-14

Abstract

The study of indigenous knowledge rooted within fishing communities provides valuable insights for research and sustainable resource management. Indigenous knowledge can provide guidelines for designing fisheries development projects that address priority issues within a fishing community. The present study attempted to explore the indigenous knowledge of fishers engaged in the gillnet fishery. The gillnet fishery is an important traditional fishery practiced in the coastal waters of Sindhudurg district. Data were collected from 75 gillnet fishers using the snowball sampling method and employing semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations. The study documented rich, varied, and potential IKs associated with the management of gillnet fishery, including dimensions of craft and gillnets, hanging coefficient, seasonal yield, species diversity and abundance, depth of operation, preference time for fishing, effects of wind direction, water colour, tides, and lunar cycle on fish catch, etc. Nine types of gillnets across three categories (drift, bottom-set, and trammel) were documented, operated at depths of 5-60 fathoms. Catches were highest between the 4th and 11th day of the lunar cycle, with species-specific seasonal peaks observed across all gillnet types. Wind direction exerted gear-specific effects on catch, and 93.33% of fishers reported intensification of water currents as the primary cyclone indicator. The documented IK provides a scientific basis for integrating traditional fishing practices into the management of small-scale coastal fisheries.

Keywords

Traditional ecological knowledge, gillnet fishery, small-scale fisheries, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra

Date : 25-05-2026