Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

INDIGENOUS TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE OF FISHERMEN IN SAURASHTRA, GUJARAT ALONG THE WEST COAST OF INDIA

Shabir Ahmad Dar, A.Y. Desai, Ashfaq M. Rather, A.N. Sayani , Ejaz A.R. Parmar, Shabana Arjamand and S.I. Yusufzai

Abstract

The benefit of indigenous knowledge can be harnessed and improved upon by its appropriate use, establishing validity of such knowledge and integrating it with development programme. The marine fisheries scenario of Gujarat coast has considerably changed in the past four decades. The fishing operation has been extended beyond 90m depth contour and the number of days per fishing trip has increased. Operational cost, wages and the cost of other inputs have increased. On the other hand, quality and quantity of the output have declined. Unlike the modern techniques, the Indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) had a significant level of adoption either knowingly or unknowingly, among the fishers because these ITKs have been generously passed on to newer generations by older ones. Numbers of research workers have reported some ITKs on fisheries with reference to marine fisheries resource, conservation and management. The study documented rich, varied and potential indigenous technical knowledge of Gujarat coast.