11 research outputs found
Governance and Power Dynamics in a Small-Scale Hilsa Shad (Tenualosa ilisha) Fishery: A Case Study from Bangladesh
No full textThis paper considers the hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) fishery of southern Bangladesh as a case study regarding governance and power dynamics at play in a small-scale fishery, and the relevance of these for the sustainable management of coastal fisheries. Qualitative methods, involving in-depth individual interviews (n = 128) and focus group discussions (n = 8) with key stakeholders in the hilsa fishery, were used to capture multiple perspectives on governance from those in different positions in the relative power structures studied, while facilitating insightful discussions and reflections. The analysis here is based on a power cube framework along three power dimensions (levels, spaces, and forms) in Bangladesh’s hilsa fishery. The study displays an imbalance in the present hilsa governance structure, with some stakeholders exercising more power than others, sidelining small-scale fishers, and encouraging increasing illegal fishing levels that ultimately harm both the fisheries and those dependent on them. To overcome this, we propose a co-management system that can play a vital role in equalizing power asymmetry among hilsa fishery stakeholders and ensure effective hilsa fishery governance. Our results suggest that recognizing analyzed power dynamics has substantial implications for the planning and implementation of such co-management and the long-term sustainability of the hilsa fishery
Understanding Social-Ecological Challenges of a Small-Scale Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) Fishery in Bangladesh
No full textSmall-scale fisheries (SSFs) have been playing a crucial role in meeting the basic needs of millions of people around the world. Despite this, the sustainability of global fisheries is a growing concern, and the factors enabling or constraining the sustainable management of small-scale fisheries remain poorly understood. Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) is the single most valuable species harvested in Bangladesh waters, serves nutrition, income, and employment to the large population. This study analyzed the state and challenges of hilsa fishery in the Gangetic River systems (Padma and Meghna Rivers) by using two frameworks, namely the social-ecological systems (SES) and drivers-pressure-state-impact-responses (DPSIR) frameworks. Primary data for this analysis were collected by in-depth interviews (n = 130) and focus group discussions (n = 8) with various stakeholders in the hilsa fisheries. The perspectives explored here have been both critical and constructive, including the identification of problems and suggestions for improving the management of this particular social-ecological system. Hilsa fisheries, however, have come under severe threat since 2003 because of population growth, overfishing, pollution, climate change, the disruption of migration routes due to siltation, etc. All these have caused reduced catches and less stable incomes for fishers. This, in turn, has led to poverty, malnutrition, social tensions, stakeholder conflicts, and debt cycles amongst more impoverished fishing communities. These problems have been compounded by improved fishing technology amongst larger-scale ventures, the use of illegal fishing gears, and the non-compliance of government fishery management programs. Recommendations include the promotion of community-supported fisheries, the enhancement of stakeholder’s social resilience, the introduction of co-management approach, an increase in incentives and formal financial supports, and possible community-managed sustainable ecotourism including hilsa fishing-based tourism.Peer reviewe
On the late winter and early spring migration of the Indian Shad, Hilsa ilisha
No full textThe migration of the Indian Shad, Hilsa ilisha (Hamilton), up the major
river systems when they are in floods is well known. Some time ago, while
making observations on the biology and fishery of Hilsa in Bengal and
Orissa, a regular small-scale movement of the fish was noticed from the
lower reaches of estuaries soon after the peak of winter season, even in the
absence of floods (Jones, 1952). The observations were summarised by
the author in the following lines (Jones, 1952, p. 66). " The two periods
of migration of the fish observed during the years under study both in the
Chilka Lake and the Hooghly River were correlated with floods during the
monsoon rains and to the general rise in temperature of the water in the
estuaries after the close of winter." In the Hooghly, this ascent of the fish
takes place usually early in February and is also associated with some breeding
activity (Jones and Menon, 1951). During this time Hilsa fishing operations
are carried out in the river on a small-scale with the help of the Clapnet,
shangla-jal. In the Chilka Lake, in Orissa, a similar migration takes
place in January-February when the fish is reported to be caught in the
channel area connecting the sea and the lake (Jones and Sujansingani, 1951).
It is of interest to mention here that a similar activity has been recorded by
Kulkarni (1951) for the Hilsa in the Narbada where there is a small run
beginning in March and continuing up to the middle of April. After referring
to the early run of Hilsa in the Indus and the Irrawaddy due to floods caused
by the melting of snows,, he says that " in the Narbada, however, there is
no such possibility, as at no stage the river passes through any snow clad
mountains and there is not the slightest increase in the level of water in
March and April". In the Indus the Hilsa comes up from the sea by about
February and forms a fishery in the river from March to September (Day,,
1873 and Quereshi, 1952). In the rivers of Burma also, it is reported to
move up at the close of winter just as in Bengal (Kyaw, 1955)
On the late winter and early spring migration of the Indian Shad, Hilsa ilisha
No full textThe migration of the Indian Shad, Hilsa ilisha (Hamilton), up the major river systems when they are in floods is well known. Some time ago, while making observations on the biology and fishery of Hilsa in Bengal and Orissa, a regular small-scale movement of the fish was noticed from the lower reaches of estuaries soon after the peak of winter season, even in the absence of floods (Jones, 1952). The observations were summarised by the author in the following lines (Jones, 1952, p. 66). "The two periods of migration of the fish observed during the years under study both in the Chilka Lake and the Hooghly River were correlated with floods during the monsoon rains and to the general rise in temperature of the water in the estuaries after the close of winter". In the Hooghly, this ascent of the fish takes place usually early in February and is also associated with some breeding activity (Jones and Menon, 1951). During this time Hilsa fishing operations are carried out in the river on a small-scale with the help of the Clapnet, shangla-jal. In the Chilka Lake, in Orissa, a similar migration takes place in January-February when the fish is reported to be caught in the channel area connecting the sea and the lake (Jones and Sujansingani, 1951). It is of interest to mention here that a similar activity has been recorded by Kulkarni (1951) for the Hilsa in the Narbada where there is a small run beginning in March and continuing up to the middle of April. After referring to the early run of Hilsa in the Indus and the Irrawaddy due to floods caused by the melting of snows,, he says that "in the Narbada, however, there is no such possibility, as at no stage the river passes through any snow clad mountains and there is not the slightest increase in the level of water in March and April". In the Indus the Hilsa comes up from the sea by about February and forms a fishery in the river from March to September (Day, 1873 and Quereshi, 1952). In the rivers of Burma also, it is reported to move up at the close of winter just as in Bengal (Kyaw, 1955)
Enhancing Social Resilience of the Coastal Fishing Communities : A Case Study of Hilsa (Tenualosa Ilisha H.) Fishery in Bangladesh
No full textSocial resilience is an essential aspect of sustainability in environmental management, especially in poor resource-dependent communities. To better understand the dynamics of social resilience, we have conducted a primarily qualitative study of communities dependent on hilsa fishing in two coastal villages in southern Bangladesh. This study applies concepts of social-ecological system (SES), social resilience and co-management in outlining our qualitative data and framing its interpretation. Our findings show that while the establishment of hilsa sanctuary areas has enhanced the previously low ecological sustainability of local small-scale fishing, the management of this program has challenged the social resilience of hilsa fishers by creating new inequalities in the distribution of power and privilege, in terms of the ways in which seasonal fishing bans are enforced and compensation for income loss during the ban periods is distributed. Based on our findings, we suggest specific measures for strengthening social resilience at the local level, including building community networks, developing community infrastructures, updating existing rules and regulations, providing alternative means of generating income for fishers during the crisis periods (e.g. natural disasters and fishing ban periods) and more active sharing of responsibility between stakeholders and government for management of the hilsa fishery. These findings are also applicable to understanding the issues beyond rules and regulations that co-management arrangements need to address in order to be successful and to enhancing the function of co-management arrangements in improving social resilience within resource-dependent communitiesPeer reviewe
Not Available
No full textNot AvailableThe migration of the Indian Shad, Hilsa ilisha (Hamilton), up the major
river systems when they are in floods is well known. Some time ago, while
making observations on the biology and fishery of Hilsa in Bengal and
Orissa, a regular small-scale movement of the fish was noticed from the
lower reaches of estuaries soon after the peak of winter season, even in the
absence of floods (Jones, 1952). The observations were summarised by
the author in the following lines (Jones, 1952, p. 66). " The two periods
of migration of the fish observed during the years under study both in the
Chilka Lake and the Hooghly River were correlated with floods during the
monsoon rains and to the general rise in temperature of the water in the
estuaries after the close of winter." In the Hooghly, this ascent of the fish
takes place usually early in February and is also associated with some breeding
activity (Jones and Menon, 1951). During this time Hilsa fishing operations
are carried out in the river on a small-scale with the help of the Clapnet,
shangla-jal. In the Chilka Lake, in Orissa, a similar migration takes
place in January-February when the fish is reported to be caught in the
channel area connecting the sea and the lake (Jones and Sujansingani, 1951).
It is of interest to mention here that a similar activity has been recorded by
Kulkarni (1951) for the Hilsa in the Narbada where there is a small run
beginning in March and continuing up to the middle of April. After referring
to the early run of Hilsa in the Indus and the Irrawaddy due to floods caused
by the melting of snows,, he says that " in the Narbada, however, there is
no such possibility, as at no stage the river passes through any snow clad
mountains and there is not the slightest increase in the level of water in
March and April". In the Indus the Hilsa comes up from the sea by about
February and forms a fishery in the river from March to September (Day,,
1873 and Quereshi, 1952). In the rivers of Burma also, it is reported to
move up at the close of winter just as in Bengal (Kyaw, 1955).Not Availabl
Not Available
No full textNot AvailableThe clupeoid group which is composed mainly of commercially important
fishes like sardines, anchovies, white baits, Hilsa etc., contribute to a third of
the total marine fish production of our country. The analysis presented in
this article is a part of the work carried out by the author under "The
biological investigation of some of the important teleosts of the Kanara coast."
This work was initiated in early 1955 under" the guidance of Dr. N. Kesava
Panikkar, the then Director of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
and later continued under Dr. S. Jones the present Director. The present
account relates to the fishery seasons, maturity, spawning and length frequency
distribution of Sardinella longiceps (Cuv. & Val.) during January 1955 to
March 1964.Not Availabl
Oil sardine investigation at Karwar
No full textThe clupeoid group which is composed mainly of commercially important
fishes like sardines, anchovies, white baits, Hilsa etc., contribute to a third of
the total marine fish production of our country. The analysis presented in
this article is a part of the work carried out by the author under "The
biological investigation of some of the important teleosts of the Kanara coast."
This work was initiated in early 1955 under" the guidance of Dr. N. Kesava
Panikkar, the then Director of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
and later continued under Dr. S. Jones the present Director. The present
account relates to the fishery seasons, maturity, spawning and length frequency
distribution of Sardinella longiceps (Cuv. & Val.) during January 1955 to
March 1964
Not Available
No full textNot AvailableThe clupeoid group which is composed mainly of commercially important
fishes like sardines, anchovies, white baits, Hilsa etc., contribute to a third of
the total marine fish production of our country. The analysis presented in
this article is a part of the work carried out by the author under "The
biological investigation of some of the important teleosts of the Kanara coast."
This work was initiated in early 1955 under" the guidance of Dr. N. Kesava
Panikkar, the then Director of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
and later continued under Dr. S. Jones the present Director. The present
account relates to the fishery seasons, maturity, spawning and length frequency
distribution of Sardinella longiceps (Cuv. & Val.) during January 1955 to
March 1964.Not Availabl
The small pelagic fishery of the Pemba Channel, Tanzania: What we know and what we need to know for management under climate change
No full textSmall pelagic fish, including anchovies, sardines and sardinellas, mackerels, capelin, hilsa, sprats and herrings, are distributed widely, from the tropics to the far north Atlantic Ocean and to the southern oceans off Chile and South Africa. They are most abundant in the highly productive major eastern boundary upwelling systems and are characterised by significant natural variations in biomass. Overall, small pelagic fisheries represent about one third of global fish landings although a large proportion of the catch is processed into animal feeds. Nonetheless, in some developing countries in addition to their economic value, small pelagic fisheries also make an important contribution to human diets and the food security of many low-income households. Such is the case for many communities in the Zanzibar Archipelago and on mainland Tanzania in the Western Indian Ocean. Of great concern in this region, as elsewhere, is the potential impact of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems in general, and on small pelagic fisheries in particular. This paper describes data and information available on Tanzania's small pelagic fisheries, including catch and effort, management protocols and socio-economic significance. Then, incorporating the rapidly improving understanding of the region's oceanography resulting from the application of remote sensing and oceanographic modelling, the paper undertakes the most complete assessment to date of the potential impacts of climate change on the small pelagic fishery of the Pemba Channel. Pathways of climate change impact are explored and crucial knowledge gaps, both in terms of the fishery itself and the wider ecosystem, are identified in order to guide future research activities. Although we analyse small pelagics in the specific context of the Pemba Channel, the key challenges identified in the analysis are likely to be relevant to many small pelagic fisheries in coastal nations heavily dependent on living marine resources. © 2020 The Author
