Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning, Morattandi, Auroville Post, Tamil Nadu, India.
PLoS One. 2018 Jul 11;13(7):e0199841. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199841. eCollection 2018.
We worked with artisanal fisherfolk along the Coromandel coast in two districts of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry in South India to map and quantify catch, gear and crew details for all fishing craft along 120 km. Spatially explicit fisheries data were collected to understand the distribution of fishing effort and to identify high pressure fishing zones. Approximately 7,945 square kilometres of fishing grounds were surveyed and 3,427 fishing trips were observed using nine GPS enabled echo-sounders operated by fishermen. Data were visualised and non parametric statistical analysis revealed distinct patterns in fishing effort, high density fishing zones and large overlaps in zones between traditional, motorised and mechanised craft. Existing marine fishing regulations for the respective regions were also evaluated and violations were mapped. Results were presented in each of the villages and then in district wide meetings with community leaders to spur discussions on resource based conflicts and fisheries management. Our findings suggest that the present trajectory of resource over-exploitation, the use of destructive fishing methods combined with the lack of compliance to current regulations will lead to a collapse of the small scale fishing industry and further intensify conflicts within the community. Recommendations made by fishing community leaders are presented and their role in local fisheries management is discussed. This study is the first of its kind for this region and can easily be replicated at regional scales to develop a better understanding of the spatial extent and nature of small scale fisheries, including conflict, for the purpose of fisheries management.
我们与印度南部泰米尔纳德邦的两个地区和本地治里联邦属地的沿科罗曼德尔海岸的手工渔民合作，对 120 公里长的范围内的所有渔船进行了捕捞量、渔具和船员详细信息的绘图和量化。收集了具有空间明确性的渔业数据，以了解捕捞努力的分布情况，并确定高压力捕鱼区。使用渔民操作的九台配备 GPS 的回声测深仪对大约 7945 平方公里的渔场进行了调查和 3427 次捕捞作业观察。数据进行了可视化处理，非参数统计分析揭示了捕捞努力、高密度捕鱼区以及传统、机动和机械化船只之间区域的大量重叠的明显模式。还对各自地区的现有海洋渔业法规进行了评估，并对违规行为进行了绘图。结果在每个村庄展示，然后在与社区领导人的地区范围会议上展示，以激发关于基于资源的冲突和渔业管理的讨论。我们的研究结果表明，目前资源过度开发的轨迹、破坏性捕捞方法的使用以及对现行法规的遵守情况不佳，将导致小规模渔业的崩溃，并进一步加剧社区内部的冲突。提出了渔民社区领导人的建议，并讨论了他们在当地渔业管理中的作用。本研究是该地区的首例，可以在区域范围内轻松复制，以更好地了解小规模渔业的空间范围和性质，包括冲突，从而实现渔业管理的目的。
