Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge

Vol. 8 (2), April 2009, pp. 237-241

Fishing methods in the rivers of Northeast India

S D Gurumayum1*

& M Choudhury2

1Gopaldev Mandir, Tourangbam Leikei, Uripok, Imphal, Manipur; 2Northeastern Regional Center, CIFRI,

Housefed Complex, Central Building, Dispur, Guwahati 781006, Assam

E-mail: santaguru@rediffmail.com, ranjanaguru@yahoo.co.uk

Received 21 August 2006; revised 19 November 2007

The Northeast frontier of India, which has been ranked 6th among the top 25 biodiversity spot in the world demonstrates

the absolute dependence of men on nature. Riverine fishery resources of these states comprise 19,150 km of streams and

rivers with diversified fish fauna, having both torrential and plain forms but still the old traditional methods of fishing are

prevalent and most of the practices followed are primitive and outdated as there is no new and reliable technology available.

Some of the existing fishing methods in the hill steams are hooks and line, maze/ barricade, encircling gear, entangling gear,

impaling gear, scooping gear, groping, impoundment, indigenous trap and noose fishing. For the large scale fishing

destructive practices such as dynamiting and poisoning are employed. Electric fishing is also becoming very popular in

some parts.

Keywords: Fishing methods, Northeast India, Traditional medicine

IPC Int. Cl.8: A01K61/00, A01K69/00, A01K73/00, A01K83/00

The seven Northeastern states of India, Arunachal

Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,

Nagaland and Tripura are blessed with diversified fish

fauna, which assumes special interest due to the fact

that the region is drained by two important drainages,

viz., Brahmaputra- Barak and Chindwin Irrawaddy.

This region has been ranked 6th among the top 25

biodiversity spots in the world. It has varied

physiographic features ranging from river valleys to

snow capped mountains making it a favourable

habitat for a variety of ichthyofauna. Despite such a

rich resource potential, the region is lagging behind in

its exploitation and management. In the high altitude

stretches, utilization of rivers and streams is low due

to biotic, abiotic and socio-economic constraints. Still

a substantial part of the resources in this region

remain unutilized and unavailable. A substantial part

of the resource in the northeast comprises capture

fisheries, the management of which requires higher

skill. Little research attention has been given for

development of fisheries in contrast to the other water

bodies.

Riverine fisheries resources of Northeastern states

comprise 19,150 km of streams and rivers. Except the

Brahmaputra and Barak valleys in Assam and Imphal

valley in Manipur, the Northeast mainly comprises

hills and mountains, which form 65% of its territory1.

The mighty Brahmaputra and Barak along with their

tributaries form more than half of rivers in this region.

Rivers of this region consist of both torrential and

plain rivers. In Arunachal Pradesh, the entire 2,000

km of rivers are of true rheophillic type. Assam alone

has 5,050 km of rivers including all the tributaries of

Brahmaputra and Barak. Manipur has two major

rivers viz, the Barak and the Manipur with a

combined length of 2,000 km. There are 21 rivers in

the hilly state of Mizoram, which along with their

tributaries run into 1700 km. Meghalaya’s 5,600 km

of rivers mainly comprise the tributaries of

Brahmaputra. Barak and Tizu are the main rivers of

Nagaland, with a combined length of 1,600 km.

Rivers of Tripura have a total length of 1,200 km.

Ichthyofaunistic resources of the region exhibit a

combination of both torrential and plain water forms

as well as cold and warm water species and occupy

diverse ecological regimes in their distributional

range. The diversified aquatic ecosystem of the region

harbours altogether, 230 fish species belonging to 103

genera and 36 families2. Endemic species recorded

from these states are 12 each from Assam and

Arunachal Pradesh, 7 from Manipur, 6 from

Meghalaya and one each from Mizoram and Tripura. __________ *Corresponding author

GURUMAYUM & CHOUDHURY: TRADITIONAL FISHING METHODS IN NORTHEAST INDIA

238

Fishing methods Selection of fishing methods and gear are

influenced by various factors such as physiography of

the water body, nature of fish stock, characteristics of

the raw material from which gear are fabricated and

standard of living3. Therefore, variation in application

of gear can be observed in different rivers, which

have characteristic of their own due to unique nature

of the water resources of the region. The frequency in

the operation of gears and fishing methods varies in

different seasons in relation with level of water,

movement of fish and their migration (Fig. 1-12). The

prevalent and popular fishing crafts and gears used in

this region are also very primitive, outdated and

unscientific. Methods ranging from catching with

hands to the operation of indigenous nets are adopted

for fishing and still a number of the age old traditional

methods are used. The methods used in this region are

results of experiences gained over a period of time

and are related to the topography of the fishing

ground, ecomorphology and behaviour of fish4. To

some extent, the style of living and nature of

consumption have also influenced fishing practices.

Many people of this region like to eat the fry stage of

the medium size fishes like Barelius sp and

accordingly, catching methods also varies. Some

specific fishing methods are very effective to catch a

particular fish even though the method practiced is

primitive. To catch the slippery and sneaky hill strums

fishes, the people of this region used locally available

materials and apply indigenous ideas and skills. Since

no new and reliable fishing technology is available to

the fishermen, sometimes they follow illegal fishing

practices for large scale fishing, which is otherwise

impossible in this torrential water bodies. Some of the

existing fishing methods in the rivers of the

northeastern region are:

Hooks & lines

In this method, a rod is tied with indigenous fiber

or cotton thread or nylon twine and the end is fixed to

a hook. The bait used to attract the fish may be

earthworm, nymph of beetle, smaller fish or small

frogs or artificial bait made up of rice bran or wheat

flour. The line may be made up of indigenous fiber or

cotton thread or nylon thread. This line may be

attached to a pole (pole and line), which is generally

bamboo or other locally available twinge. If there is

no pole then it is called hand line. A sinker or float

may or may not be there. There are many types of

hooks and lines like short hand line, long hand line,

pole and line, etc. The method is generally practiced

as a leisure time hobby by most local individual in

most of the rivers.

Trap fishing

This method is very common because it is less time

consuming and less maintenance is required and no

physical attendant is needed. This is generally

operated for long time and operational time of the

traps is different and may last for more than one week

depending on the design, season and place of the

operation. The traps are so designed that once the fish

is entered it can not escape. Various names are given

to different designs of traps.

Maze/barricade

The maze or barricade is a bamboo trap of various

designs. The principle of the method is to trap the fish

in a cage made generally of split bamboo. Once

entered, the fish cannot escape from the trap.

Sometimes, to lure the fish baits are generally kept

inside the trap. This method is very common in this

region as it does not need to guard the traps; they

simply put the trap in a specific location and pull out

after some time or some days. There are various shape

and size of bamboo maze used in this region and their

name varies with different locations. The shape may

be of conical, cylindrical or basket type.

Arial trap

By this method, migratory fishes are caught on

their way. Some kind of obstacle is put on the path of

the migratory fishes and when the fish face the

obstacle, they jump out of the water and fall in the

traps. The traps may in the form of pit or bamboo

stick knitted with threads kept in the way.

Encircling gear

This includes all types of nets used to capture fish

by placing a mobile net to block the escape. Cast net

made up of cotton or nylon twine or indigenous fiber

is one such gear commonly used in the hill streams of

this region.

Entangling gear

These are used to catch a great variety of fishes and

are very common in the Northeast region. The fishes

get caught in it by the gills. The net may be of nylon

or made from indigenous fiber having various maze

sizes to catch specific fish. Now- a- days, due to

availability of nets from Myanmar, such devices are

becoming increasingly popular.

INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 8, No. 2, APRIL 2009

239

Impaling gear

This is a form of gear by which a fish is impaled by

a sharp device. The basic principal of the method is to

make the fish wounded using some device like

harpoons, spears, knife, sickle, etc. The device can

only be employed when the fish is plainly visible.

There are various types of the gears and name of the

devices changes according to the location.

Scooping gear

Such nets are usually operated in the shallow

waters for capturing small fishes. The net is usually

made of cotton or indigenous fiber. In shallow water,

scoop baskets made up of bamboo are used.

Dragging gear

Here, the net bags or nets are towed through the

water. At least four individuals are required to do the

job. It is generally done in winter, when water level

decreases. The practice is commonly seen in slow

moving rivers.

Lift net

In this method, a square net is used, where four

corners of the sheet is tied to the tips of a crossed

flexible bamboo. A bamboo is attached to point of

crossing the flexible bamboo. The whole arrangement

may or may not have a rope; when there is a rope to

function then it is called a hand lift net and without

rope, it is called Chinese dip net. The device is mainly

used in slow flowing rivers in the plain.

Electric fishing

Using some crude devices, electric field is created

in water to immobilize and collect fish. Current is

passed through a naked wire/plate and the fishes are

collected with hands or nets. This method is becoming

very popular in most part of Manipur.

Miscellaneous devices

Groping

In small pools, fishes are caught simply by hands.

Commonly practiced by women and children, this

requires deftness of hand and a considerable amount

of practice. Fishes like Amblycep sp are caught with

the help of a bunch of earthworms tied on a small rod,

which is used as bait. Fishes are caught when they are

busy in eating the worms.

Impoundment

This is done in two ways. One, a stream is diverted

into a small channel at the end of which water

accumulates to form small pool. These pools are

demarcated with stones, wood, leaves, etc. The fishes,

which enter the pool along with diverted water, are

caught by pelting stone or by bailing out/draining

water. At times water from the pool is bailed out and

the fishes are caught easily. In the second method, an

artificial barrier is formed in the small streams with

stones in such a manner so as to leave holes in

between them for the fishes to enter and settle. After

some time, these are fenced around with close – nit

bamboo mats leaving just enough gaps for inserting

traps. When stones are disturbed the fishes are forced

into the traps.

Dynamiting

This is very common in all the hill streams of

Northeastern India. It is used for large-scale fishing in

this region.

Poisoning

This is another common method for fishing. The

poison used may be of plant derivatives or synthetic

chemicals. The fish killed by these methods are said

to be fit for human consumption.

Indigenous traps

It is an indigenous method followed locally. A bye

product formed while making rice bear is used as a

bait to attract fishes into the traps. The traps are

metallic trays covered with cloths with hole in it. The

bait is kept inside the tray. Fishes enter the trap

through the hole for bait and get trapped. The fishes

especially of Barilius species are caught by this

method at fry stage.

Noose fishing

Here, a rod generally made of bamboo cane with a

string dangling at one end is used to catch fish. The

end of the string is looped into a noose; the bait being

fixed at few inches below it, the fish rising to the bait

is caught by the noose behind the gills.

Rivers of the northeast still remain almost pristine

and only traditional fishing methods are used. They

are obviously ineffective to exploit the rich fishery

resources of the region. At the same time the

destructive fishing practices such as dynamiting and

poisoning need to be curbed to protect the

environment. So it is high time to divert research

attention for developing appropriate fishing gear in

order to exploit the fishery resources in a proper and

judicious manner. This can be achieved by both

GURUMAYUM & CHOUDHURY: TRADITIONAL FISHING METHODS IN NORTHEAST INDIA

240

INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 8, No. 2, APRIL 2009

241

modifying the existing methods and introducing new

methods.

Acknowledgement Authors are grateful to the Indian Council of

Agricultural Research, New Delhi for financial

assistance rendered as part of an AP Cess Fund

project on Riverine Fisheries of NE states and to the

Director, CIFRI (ICAR), Barrackpore, West Bengal

for providing necessary facilities. Authors are also

grateful to Dr VV Sugunun, Coordinator, World Fish

Center, Cairo Egypt for his encouragement in

preparing the manuscript.

References

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(1998) 64.

2 Sinha M, Fish genetic resources of the northeastern region of

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3 Choudhury M, Fishing methods in flood plain lakes, In:

Compendium of FAO sponsored training program on Flood

plain fisheries management, (CICFRI, Barrackpore, West

Bengal), 1992, 163.

4 Sharma Rupam, Traditional fishing methods and fishing

gears of Assam, Fishing Chimes, 20 (12) (2001) 23.

5 Nath P & Dey SC, Fish and Fisheries of Northeastern India,

Vol 1, (Arunachal Pradesh), 1989,194.