How and where fishing nets of diverse shapes and varying mesh sizes are used in riverine Assam
In its journey to the Bay of Bengal, the Brahmaputra carves out different types of waterbodies along Assam’s landscape. These include rivers, streams, wetlands, creeks connecting the wetlands to rivers, and innumerable ponds, which offer ample fishing opportunity. Fishing has, therefore, been a way of life for the local communities, such as Kaibarta, spread across the state.
Today, however, they are perplexed by the changing nature of waterbodies. Fishers say unpredictable and extreme rainfall patterns are causing fluctuation of the water level in streams and rivers and such changes affect migration and other behavioural traits of fish across the waterbodies.
Their observations are corroborated by studies, such as Mapping India’s Climate Vulnerability by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, released last year on October 26. The study finds Assam to be the most vulnerable to climate impacts in the country.
Apurva Kumar Das, joint director-in-charge, Directorate of Fisheries, Assam, says an increased load of sediments in the Brahmaputra and its tributaries is turning the water turbid and opaque, reducing the dissolved oxygen necessary for aquatic species. Growth of invasive species, such as water hyacinth, is also deteriorating the water quality.
Assam's fishing communities are bracing up to these challenges using varied tools — traps, gears and nets — built using traditional knowledge and from locally available resources such as bamboo, cane, jute strings, cork floats and earthen loads.
Resembling a triangular basket is the jakoi or scoop gear, mostly used by the women fishers. Made of bamboo matting, it is edged with thick splinters that extend as handles.
Holding on to them, it is dragged like a shovel along the bed of the waterbody. This churns up the water and the fish entering the basket, apparently to take refuge, get caught. With jakoi comes kholoi, a bamboo-wickered pot that the women tie to their waist to keep the fish captured during the trip.
The tubular paori with sizes ranging from 2.5 to 4 metres is used in small waterbodies or for fishing in flood water. It is filled up with branches, twigs and leaves of aquatic plants, to lure the fish with a safe refuge and eventually trap them.
“The traps are kept concealed in low lying areas under water, tied to bamboo shafts erected at the edge of the waterbody to prevent them getting displaced by the current,” says Bharati Das from Changmaigor village in Jorhat district. The catch mostly comprises spiny eels, various kinds of catfish, bronze featherback and small prawns.
This cast net is thrown into the waterbody for encircling a probable fish-bearing area. Small iron weights tied to peripheral pockets stitched at its lower edge, make the net sink into the water.
“The apex of the net held through a long chord is tugged now and then and the sinkers (iron weights) disturb the fish. They end up trickling into the net pockets and get caught,” say Rathin Das and his sister Maloti from Khurahala village in Majuli district.
Khewali jaal can be used in multiple types of waterbodies — streams, wetlands and ponds having sufficient depth. The catch includes various commercial fish, such as chital (Chitala chitala), minor carp (Labeo bata) and major Indian carps like rohu (Labeo rohita), mrigel (Cirrhinus mrigala) and catla (Catla catla).
This is about 10 m-long wall-like net, placed transversally across large waterbodies. When the fish tries to swim through the “net wall”, it gets caught. The size of the mesh just allows the head of the fish to get in and not its body.
Then as it struggles to get out, its gills get entangled in the mesh and it appears as though it is hanged (phansi) along the net. Such nets are often left overnight in the waterbody.
Resembling a plunge basket of about 0.5-1 m tall, polo is made of thin bamboo strips, kept open at both ends. The circular bottom is wide but the top opening is much smaller, lined with a thick rim.
“Holding on to it, the fisherman slowly wades across the waterbody and sensing the presence of fish below, quickly plunges the gear, pressing the upper rim firmly against the bed of the waterbody. If fish get trapped within, they are taken out through the opening at the top,” says Pinku Das from Changmaigor village in Jorhat district. Polo is used for a quick catch of fish such as murrel, featherback or small carps from shallow water.
Research and reporting for the story have been supported by the National Geographic Society
This was first published in Down To Earth’s print edition (dated 16-28 February, 2022)
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