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CHAPTER 2
HISTORY OF THE TRAWL FISHERY
History of the trawl fishery cannot be isolated from the history of fishery. Naturally,
one who desires to discuss the history of trawl fishery has to start with the history of fishery.
The present chapter is designed in such a way as to include the history of fishery of early
human race, the world and the introduction of trawlers in Kerala fishery. It must be noted that
the irrelevant and insignificant events have been omitted from the discussion.
2.1 Fishery in the Early years
The history of taming fish and its use by man is as old as the history of human race.
From the dawn of history fishing was the major occupation of the people inhabiting the sea
coast. (Pillai, 1924). In the Stone Age, people living by the sea endeavoured to satisfy their
hunger by catching fish that was left behind by the receding tide with their hands bare or clad
in their skins and firs. In the next stage, pronged spears or harpoons were introduced. With
the passage of time, man learned to fish with bait holding gorges of wood, bone or horn with
pointed tips. In the stone age real nets were devised and went fishing in rough boats, which
was hallowed out of tree trunks (Alexander, 1964).
A good illustration of catching fish and angling is found in the Old Testament of the
Bible and Hindu Mythology. In the book of ‘Job’ one of the forty six books of the Old
Testament of the Bible, written presumably in 1500 B.C, there are many passages referring to
the use of hooks, harps, iron etc for fishing. The use of fish in India dates back to the third
millennium B.C. Fish remains with cut marks and signs of the use have been obtained from
excavations at Mohanjadaro and Harappa of the Indus valley civilizations (B.C 2500-
B.C.1500). Aristotle is said to be the father of Fishery science too8 (Agarwal, 1990).
Coming to the Indian scenario King SomaSekhara (A.D 1127) was the first
writer who recorded the common sport fish of India, grouping them in to marine and
8 Aristotle is considered as the father of Philosophy, Political Science and Biology besides
Fishery Science
fresh water-reverine forms. In medieval India, good illustrations of catching fish are found in
Akbarnama, indicating the system of catching fish in state water. The first modern writer on
Indian Fishes was Bloch whose splendid work ‘Auslandiche Fishe’ was published in 1785.
This work along with its ichthylogy and its further extension by Schneider in 1801, contain
many Indian marine forms. Later Lacepede wrote ‘Historide Poisons’ (1798-1803). In 1803
Russel described 200 species of fish from Vishakapattnam. In 1822, there appeared Hamilton’s
pioneer work ‘Fishes of Ganges’ which contains the description of 269 species of fish. Cuvier
and Callenoinnie’s ‘Historic Naturally Depoisons’ published in 1849, provided more impetus
to the study of ichthyology (Ibrahim 1992). .
In Kerala, the earliest reference about fishing activities is found in ‘Sangham Literature’.
The society of the Sangham period (The first five centuries of the Christian Era) had developed
hunting, fishing, cattle rearing and agriculture. The fishing population at that time was known
as ‘Paravathas’, sale of fish was done by women folk while men did the fishing. The cultural
and trade relations developed in Kerala, over the years, with the partners like, the Arabs, the
Chinese, the Africans the Egyptians and the Europeans had its impacts on the fisheries of
Kerala by way of improvement in crafts and gear used for fishing (Pillai, 1929). The Arabs
remodeled the indigenous dung out canoes9, unique to Kerala, into a high board canoe by
stitching planks on their side. The Egyptians introduced Kattamaram (a type of raft).The long
snake boat used in Kerala is of Phoenician in origin. The three most popular conventional
vessels used in Kerala are the Kattamaram, Plank canoes (Kettuvallam) and Dugout canoes.
The use of conventional fishing crafts is limited to the use of human stamina and skill such as
towing or paddling. Dependence on manual labour and wind power are easily overcome by
mechanized crafts. Mechanised crafts are of two types (Kurien, J and Wilman, R. 1982).
1. In Board Engine (IBE) with engines inside the hull of the Boat
2. Out Board Engine (OBE), engines fastened to the boat from outside.
9 A dug out canoe is made by scooping of wood from a single log of soft mango or jungle jack
of suitable size. The keel portion of left, thicker than the sides, which are hallowed out so as
to form internal stifferning ribs.
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2.2 Introduction of the Trawlers into the history of fishery
“A review of history shows how Sailing trawlers, Stern trawlers and currently both
Motor and Otter trawlers and Twin beam trawlers have in turn dominated the trawler fishery.
Fishing power has sometimes leapt forward within a few years but at times has also stagnated
for decades. Fishing has not become a profitable sector because increases in catch rates have
lagged far behind those in fishing power and everything points in the direction of over capacity
of the sea” (Engelhard, 1953). A short history of the evolution of trawlers into fishing fleet is
given below.
2.2.1 Era 1-14th to 19th century
References to some form of trawl fishing in the world date back to the 14th century. In
1376/77 A.D, a royal commission under King Edward III, prohibited the use of a controversial
new fishing gear called the “Wondyrchym” that had been in use in the ‘Thames Estuary’ for
about seven years. This early ten feet-wide beam trawl was already accused by traditional
line and net fishers of catching large quantities small fish in the Estuary (Graham, 1956; Kennedy
and Broad Hurst 2002).Opposition against trawl continued throughout the history, but never
halted its development.
During the 17th century, Britain developed the ‘Dogger’ an early type of sailing trawler
commonly operated in the North Sea. The ‘Dogger’ takes its name from the Dutch word
dodger, meaning a fish vessel which tows a trawl. Dodgers were sturdy, capable of fishing in
the rough conditions of the sea. The trawlers in the early years were known as “the mother of
Deep sea fishing” The design of the elegant wooden boats spread across Great Britain and
the whole world, influencing fishing fleets everywhere. During the middle ages, Brixham was
an important fishing port, where the trawling vessels were improved to a great extent and, in
1890s, there were about 300 trawling vessels in Brixham, England. Until the late 18th century,
sailing vessels were only capable of towing small trawls. However, in closing years of that
century, a type of vessel emerged that was capable of towing a large trawl in deep waters.
British sailing trawling industry in the North Sea expanded greatly during much of the 19th
century (Kennedy and Broad Hurst, 2002).By the end of the 19th century, there were more
than 3000 sailing trawlers in commission in U.K waters and the practice had spread to
neighbouring European countries (George, H.2002).
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1.2.2. Era II - 20th Century
Around the turn of the 20th century steam trawlers were being built rapidly in Great
Britain and by 1990 their combined number in English and Scottish east coast ports was no
less than 1251, according to official statistics of the time. There was also a continued expansion
of the fishing grounds worked by British steam trawlers which by 1990, included the entire
southern, central North sea (Graham, 1956). The trawler design adapted as the way they
were powered changed from sail to coal fired steam by World War I to diesel and turbines,
by the end of World War II. During World War I & II many fishing trawlers were commissioned
as naval vessels to be used as minesweepers. From the 1930s to the early 1950s there was
little change in the average fishing power of British steam trawlers fishing in North sea (Engelhard,
1953). From 1950 onwards, the technological improvements of the trawl fishing were widely
used all over the world. From 1960 to 1980, was the period for the rise of modern twin beam
trawling. Since World War II, commercial fishing vessels have been increasingly equipped
with electronic aids such as radio navigation aids and fish finders. The largest fishing port in
Europe from 1970s has been Peterhead, situated in the North east corner of Scotland. In its
prime in the 1980s, Peterhead had over 500 trawlers staying at sea for a week on each trip
(Hurst, 2002).
2.3 Modern Trawlers and use of electronics
Modern trawlers are decked vessels. Their superstructure (wheel house and
accommodation) can be forward, midshap or afterward. Motorised winches, electronic
navigation and sonar systems are usually installed. Fishing equipment varies in sophistication
depending on the size of the vessel and on the technology used. Modern trawlers make
extensive use of contemporary electronics including navigation and communication equipment,
fish detection devices and equipment to control and monitor gear. Which equipment will be
installed depends on the size, and type of trawler. Navigational instruments such as two pilot
and GPS are used for maneuvering the vessel in harbour and at sea.
Radar can be used for example when pair trawling to keep correct the distance
between two wheels. Communication instruments range from basic radio devices to
maritime distress systems as well as device for communicating with the crew. Fish
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detection devices such as echo sounders and sonar are used to locate fish. Net sounders
(trawl eyes) give information about the concentration of fish around the opening to the trawl as
well as the clearances around the opening and the bottom of the trawl. Catch sensors give
information about the rate at which the code end is filling. Symmetry sensors give information
about the optimal Geometry of the trawlers. Tension sensors give information about how
much tension is in the warps and sweeps (Bal.et.al, 1984).
2.4 Fish Storage and Processing
Modern trawlers store the fish they catch in some form of chilled condition. At least
fish will be stored in boxes covered with ice or stored with ice in the fish hold. In general, the
fish are kept fresh by chilling them with ice or refrigerated with sea water or freezing them in
blocks. Many trawlers carry some measure of onboard fish processing and the larger the
vessel more likely it is to include fish processing facilities (FAO, 1982).
2.4.1 Trawl Gear
Trawler is a fishing boat provided with engines of sufficient power to tow the net at the
appropriate trawling speed. They are fitted with trawl winches and equipment necessary to
haul the net on board and lift the ‘cod end’ over the deck (FAO, 1985). The trawl is a conical
shaped net towed over the sea bed. On the wings of the trawl net rectangular boards called
otter boards are attached to weigh the whole net down to the bottom and maintain lateral
opening (Kurien and Wilman, 1982). The trawl is primarily a bag net and is believed to be
evolved from the dredge nets used in the calm oyster of fisheries. The trawls, in its earlier form
had a rigid rectangular frame to which the bag was attached at one side and towing ropes on
the other (Bal,et.al. 1984). The design requirements of trawl are relatively simple, a mechanism
for keeping the mouth of the net open in horizontal and vertical dimensions. There is a body of
the net which guides fish inwards and a “cod-end” of a suitable mesh size, where the fish are
collected. The size and design of the net used is determined by the species being targeted, the
engine power and locally enforced regulations.
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2.4.2 Cod End
“Cod end” is the trailing of the net where the fish are finally caught. The size of the
mesh in the cod end is a determinant, of the size of the fish which the net catches. Consequently,
regulation of mesh size is a common way of managing mortality of juvenile fishes in the trawl
nets (FAO, 1982).
2.4.3 Major Categories of Trawlers
Depending on the geographic origin, the type of fish the trawlers catch, the fishing
method used and their architecture, the trawlers range in size, to open boats with inboard
motors up to large freezer and factory trawlers (FAO, 1985). The categories of the trawlers
are Trigger trawlers, Beam trawlers, Otter trawlers, Pair trawlers, Side trawlers, Stern trawlers,
Freezer trawlers and Wet Fish trawlers. Other trawlers deploy one or more parallel trawls
kept apart horizontally, using otter boards. These trawls can be towed in mid water or along
the bottom. Otter trawlers range in size from sailing canoes to super trawlers. Otter trawlers
usually have two gallows at the stern with towing blocks. The towing warps run through these,
each regulated by its own winch, medium and large trawlers usually have a stern ramp for
hauling the trawl on to the deck. Some trawlers tow twin parallel trawls, using three warps
each, warp with its own winch. Some Otter trawlers are also outrigger trawlers using outriggers
to tow one or two Otter trawls from each side. Pair trawlers are trawlers which operate
together trawling a single trawl. They keep the trawl open horizontally by keeping their distance
when towing. Pair Trawlers operate both in mid water and bottom waters. Pair trawling is
used by small trawlers in India at depths less than
20 m [Krist Jonson, (1969), Kurian Sebastaian, (1982)]. In pair trawling two eleven
meter/trawl boats are attached to a 15m wide trawler between the wings (George and Balan,
1981).Pair trawling achieves the spread of the net by having the warps between the two
trawlers of the same or reasonably similar traction power. Layout of a typical pair trawler is
similar to that of a side trawler (FAO, 1985).
Side trawlers have the trawl deployed over the side with the trawl warps
passing through blocks suspended from a forward gallows and another afterward gallows.
Until the late sixties, side trawlers were the most common deep sea boat used on
North Atlantic Fisheries. These trawlers were used for a longer period than other
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kinds of trawlers but are now being replaced by stern trawlers (FAO, 1986). Stern trawlers
have trawls which are deployed and retrieved from the stern. Large stern trawlers often have
a ramp though pelagic and small stern trawlers are often designed with a ramp. Stern trawlers
are designed to operate in most weather conditions. A wet fish stern trawler stores the fish in
ice or sea water which has been refrigerated. A freezer stern trawler stores the fish in frozen
boxes or blocks and a factory stern trawler processes the catch. A pelagic stern trawler may
use fish pumps to empty the cod end. Majority of the trawlers operating on the high seas are
freezer trawlers. They have facilities for preserving fish by freezing. They are medium to large
size trawlers with general arrangement as stern or side trawlers. Wet fish trawlers are next
type of trawlers, where the fish is kept in the hold in fresh or wet covered with ice or ice in the
fish hold. They must operate in areas close to their landing place, and the time such a vessel
can spend in fishing is limited (FAO, 1984).
Bull trawling is yet another type of trawling. In this type of trawler, two boats are used
and a net is towed between them. This method has the disadvantage as to the successful
operation, there has to be full co-ordination between the two skippers which is not always
forth coming. The two boats have to be in constant view of each other which would produce
their operation at night time. And another disadvantage being that it would not be operated
during strong winds (Bal, et.al, 1984). Multipurpose vessels are trawler-gill nature, trawler
purse-seine etc. These are vessels which are equipped for alternative use of two or more
different gears without major modifications to the vessel’s outfit and equipment. The lead of
warps and pursing lines are assured by rollers, blocks, trawl gallows and purse davit with the
lay out planned to reduce to minimum, the time needed for conversion from one type of fishing
to another (FAO, 1986).
2.4.4 Otter Trawls:
The use of otter boards gave the name “otter trawls”. This modification gave
way to bigger sized nets. The manual of hauling of the net as was done with the beam
trawl was not possible especially with the introduction of the heavy otter boards. Thus
mechanization was introduced in the form of strong winches (Bal, et.al. 1984). The
above mentioned are the various types of trawlers that are commonly in use in various
parts of the world. For the specific catch of a specie of fish, the most suitable type of
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trawler is used. The earliest trawlers were used for bottom dwelling fishes like flat fishes
(FAO, 1986).
2.5 Trawl Fishery in Kerala
Kerala, the land blessed with the chirping of birds, murmuring of the coconut palms,
the enticing lagoons and bountiful beaches and the “God’s own country” is no less renowned
for its fishery. Till the mid 1970s Kerala with its, 590 km coastline (a mere 10% of India’s
coastline) was placed third among the maritime states in India in the production of fish. (Agarwal,
1990). The overlying waters (coastal) are considered to be among the most productive in the
Indian Ocean. Earnings from the export of marine products from Kerala have during the past
two decades been of considerable importance. They account for 18 per cent in terms of
quantity and value in the export value in 2006-07 (Aswathy.et.al, 2011).Kerala dominated in
the exports of frozen shrimp contributing 41.32 per cent of the net export (Economic Review,
2010). Marine sector of Kerala is one of the most important concerns of the Planning Board
of the state of Kerala and is the pivot of the development projects (Kerala Fisheries, Facts
and Figures, 1980). Let us examine the evolution of the trawlers in Kerala.
2.5.1 Pre Mechanisation Phase:
The fishery of Kerala has an uninterrupted history of a few thousand years. Till the
1960s, there were only a hand full of mechanized boats in the state and almost the entire
marine fish production was from the country craft propelled by wind and man power (Gopalan,
U.K.1987). By 1970, the output of the Artisanal fishermen was close to the maximum
sustainable yield, in the inshore waters (0-5 depths), estimated at 3, 77,000 tonnes, (Aswathy,
et.al.2011).
2.5.2 Mechanisation in Kerala Fishery
The government of Kerala started to modernize the fishery as early as 1953,
when the Indo-Norwegian project came into being in the Neendakara, region of the
Quilon District (Agarwal, 1990). The programme of Mechanization was adopted on
the presumption that the major constraint on the growth of fishery was technological
and that rapid mechanization of fishing crafts would lead to substantial increase in
fish production. It had two phases (1) The motorization of existing indigenous crafts,
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(ii) The introduction of small trawlers, medium and large trawlers (Government of Kerala,
1969).
The first phase of mechanization was soon abandoned since the traditional crafts
were found unfit for mechanization. In the second phase, there was the development of a 22
feet clinker boat fitted with four to five hp diesel engine to begin with. Subsequently other
varieties of boats, superior in size and engine power were introduced (Ibrahim, 1986).
Table 2.1
Distribution of Mechanized Boats:
Year 22ft 23ft 25ft 25ft Total Cumulativ
4-5 HP 8.10 HP 8-10 HP 16 HP e
1956 49 49 49
1957 18 18 67
1958
1959 9 9 76
1960 12 12 88
1961 13 15 28 116
1962 10 3 7 20 136
1963 2 2 138
Till March 67 23 39 39 138 138
1969
Source: Govt. of Kerala INP project, 1969
Between 1956 and 1963 the number of boats issued in the Indo Norwegian
Project area increased three fold. The largest number of boats (129 out of 138)
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belonged to the first three types, 22ft, 231/2 ft, and 25 ft. (8-10 H.P) . The fourth category of
boats namely 25 ft (8-10 H.P.) was designed especially for operating shrimp (prawn) trawl
for the first time in 1962. Only boats of this variety were supplied during 1962, but their
number increased to nine in 1963. Thus it seems that during the initial phase 1956-63
mechanized fishing was largely confined to the exploitation of conventional species that is
shoaling pelagic varieties and for the use of traditional gears (Indo Norwegian Project 1969).
2.5.3 Post 1963 Phase
During this phase, the system of distributing boats to fishermen began in 1956 was
discontinued in 1963 and a new system of issuing boats through Co-operatives was introduced
(INP, 1969). It was after the introduction of trawling in 1953-63 that mechanized fishing
turned out to be a highly profitable investment and gained considerable momentum. The Kerala
fishery emerged as an export oriented industry only during the post 1963 period. The sustained
demand for the processed prawn products mainly from U.S.A and Japan during the early
sixties and the simultaneous introduction of trawlers by the Indo-Norwegian Project which
made large scale prawn catch possible, mechanized fishing became a highly profitable venture.
The rise in fish prices especially for prawns, continuing steadily for several years, the rise
keeping much of increase in other non - fish prices (Kurien, 1978).
A new phase in the Indo-Norwegian effort to develop the marine fisheries began with
the arrival at Cochin, of three large Norwegian fishing schooners10 named M.O.Christenson
77, Cochin 65 &Travancore 56, on January 1953. These vessels were experimental fishing
vessels meant to try out various kinds of gear, explore fishing grounds and serve as training
vessels for the Indian crew. They surveyed the marine waters of Cochin intensively and other
waters of Kerala coast. The gear experimented with were trawl nets, purse seine and fishing
lines (Achari and Menon, 1959).Two important findings that promoted the prawn fisheries in
Kerala, emerged from schooner explorations are
1. The sea bottom, extending out to 30-40 fathoms from Quilon at the south to Kozhikode
in the north appears to be covered with sand and mud.
10 Experimental Trawler Boats introduced by INP in Cochin
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2. Some of the richest prawn grounds in the whole world are found in the Arabian Sea
outside the Malabar Coast.
The second supplement to the main agreement signed on 21st April 1956 provided
for the starting of fishing centre at Cochin. In accordance with this agreement a new variety of
medium sized boat known as ‘m-boat’ was introduced. The ‘m-boats’ were operated with
trawls (fish, shrimp and pair trawl) at Cochin and Neendakara-Shakthikulangara belt. The
results of the experiments of the m-boats held in 1957 & 1958 were crucial in the development
of the trawler fishery in Kerala (Sandaven, 1959).
2.5.4 Introduction of 25 feet to 28 feet trawlers in Kerala
As a second phase to the INP, in 1962, introduced a 25 feet boat with 16 hp diesel
engine, capable of operating small shrimp trawl, which brought in a very high catch. The
demand for small trawlers and trawl gear increased due to great returns brought by them. In
Neendakara-Shakthikulangara belt more than 130 applications were sent by the fishermen
through fishermen Co-operative Societies (Sandaven, 1959). The boat yard for the project
issued 10 boats of 25 feet apart from seven boats of other sizes, and sold three medium boats
m6, m9 & m1 in the project area and laid 34 new keels of 25 feet and 28 feet in 1962. The
project boat yard could not meet the demand for the new boats and designed a small shrimp
trawl net to be operated from 23 ½ feet and 25 feet (8-10 hp) boats. The new gear met the
demand for trawls from the fishermen of the 8-10 hp boats. All the new boats issued to the
fishermen were engaged in trawling operations by the end of March 1963. The following table
taken from the annual report (1963) of the Kerala State Planning Board reveals the number of
days the trawlers operated, the average catch of the boat and the average gross income per
boat (Government of Kerala, 1964).
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Table 2.2
Size, Catch, Income and Fishing days of Trawlers
Size of Boat Total fishing Average catch Average Gross
days operated per day income per
boat per day (in Rs.)
25 feet (16 HP) 686 300 166
23½ feet (8HP) 826 131 78
25 feet (8 HP) 345 112 62
Source: Kerala state Planning Board Annual Report, (1963)
From 1956 to 1963, 138 mechanised boats varying in size as 22ft (4-8hp) 25ft (8-10
hp) 23½ ft and (l6hp) 25 feet were issued by the INP in Neendakara-Shakthikulangara.
(Report Kerala State Planning Board, 1963). By the end of March 1963, after a decade of
concerted action and intensive service, the 1NP concluded its fishery activities, leaving the
extension programmes into the hands of the government of Kerala (Achari and Menon, 1963).
2.5.5 Establishment of CIFT (Central Institute of Fisheries
Technology)
Government of India established the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in 1957,
on the recommendation of the Fisheries Research Committee appointed by the Central Ministry
of Food and Agriculture (CIFT, 1982).
A Craft and Gear Division (CGD) was organized in CIFT in 1963 (CIFT, 1982).
By 1967, the CGD of the CIFT brought out 12 designs mainly of the medium type boats for
trawling. These boats were made available to the fishermen in 1979 (F.A.O, 1980). The
author R. Korakandy brought about the details of the boats made available to the fishermen
in 1979. The base year for the calculation is 1977.
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2.5.6 Growth of trawlers from 1960 to 1980There emerged the freewheeling and ambling mechanized boats in hundreds from
1962 onwards. In 1961, there were only twenty four trawlers but by 1980, there were more
than three thousand of them. The period from 1956 to 66 was one of slow mechanisation and
from 1969 to 1980, there was rapid mechanization (Kurien, 1987). The following table gives
a clear view of the modernization of boats.
Figure 2.1Growth of the Number of Trawlers upto 1980
Source : Bureau of Economics and statistics Employment potential of Fisheries Development
Programme in Kerala, Government of Kerala Report of the Committee to Study the
Need for Conservation of Marine Fishery Resource 1982, State Planning Board,
Economic Review of Kerala, 1977, CMFRI, Indian Fisheries 1947-1977.
According to the Census Report of the Department of Fisheries, there were 2476
trawlers in Kerala in 1982. Out of the 2961 mechanised boats in Kerala, 382 (12.9%) of
them were engaged in gill net fishing, the trawler boats (83.62%) and purse seiners were just
563 in number (1.78%) (Government of Kerala, 1982). The Directorate of Fisheries brought
out the census of the mechanized boats (District wise) for the first time in 1980.
The report of the census is shown in the table 2.4
Table 2.4
District wise Distribution of Mechanized Boats in Kerala in 1980
Sl.No. Name of No. of mechanized boats
District <30 feet 30 feet & above Total
1 Trivandrum 163 195 358
2 Quilon 314 319 633
3 Alleppey 369 224 593
4 Ernakulam 321 177 498
5 Trichur 18 7 25
6 Malappuram 134 59 193
7 Calicut 128 77 205
8 Cannanore 268 211 479
Kerala 1715 1269 2984
Source: Government of Kerala, 1980
By the year 1980, the number of trawlers reached nearly 3,000. Along with the
proliferation of the trawlers, the output started to decline from 1976 onwards though with ups
and downs. While the traditional sector (small scale fisheries) started a decline in its output
from 1972 onwards. The share of the traditional sector went down drastically from a gigantic
percent of 89.39 in 1979 to 54 and to 44 in 1982. (Korakandy, 1994). The fishermen organized
under the Kerala Swathanthra Malsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF)11, against destruction
of the ecosystem, using the gears like purse seine and trawl net and the Government of Kerala
was quick enough to respond to it (Kocheri, 1982).
11 KSMTF is the organization of the fishermen in Kerala which began under the leadership of
Fr.Thomas Kocheri
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2.6 Overview of Fishery Regulations in Kerala
The Indian Fisheries Regulation Act 1897 formed the basis for the different states and
Union Territories to introduce fishery laws and rules to suit local demands and conditions. The
Fishing Regulation Act of 1981 authorized maritime states to frame rules for regulation of
fishing to protect the traditional fishermen from the mechanized fishing vessels and the operation
of large fishing vessels. This act provided for a regulation of fishing in the territorial sea along
the coast line of the state through registration and licensing, mesh size regulation, prohibition of
certain fishing methods, delimitation of fishing zones and declaration of closed seasons
(Government of Kerala, 1981).
Consequent upon the mechanization of fishing crafts in Kerala with the Indo Norwegian
Project in 1953 the marine fisheries sector of Kerala faced dramatic changes with the orientation
towards lucrative shrimps for export market, people from outside the fishing community
concentrating their activity and increased capitalization from private sources. Even though the
marine fish production increased during the post mechanization period, the catch showed
dwindling tendency in the 1980s. There was overall decline in fish landings in general and
continuous decline in the share of artisanal sector which contributed 88 per cent of the total
fishermen workforce in particular. This has resulted in growing conflicts between the fishermen
belonging to the mechanized and artisanal sectors for fishing space, time and resources, leading
to violent conflicts (Kocheri, 1982).
The artisanal fishermen protested collectively against mechanized means of fishing and demanded
total ban on such fishing methods. The demands of the artisanal fishermen included banning of
trawlers within 20 kilometers from the shore, total banning of trawlers during June to August,
mesh size regulation passing of marine legislation, demarcating the areas of operations for the
mechanized and traditional fishery separately, establishment of coast guards to enforce the
law and severe penalty for violation of the reserved zone. The government of Kerala responded
to these demands and the Kerala Marine Fisheries Regulation Act (KMFRA)12 was passed
by the government of Kerala in December 1980. This act consists of twelve rules and
prohibited the use of purse seine, ring seine, pelagic trawl and mid water trawl gears
12 KMFRA 1980 is defined in Kerala Gazette Extra Ordinary No:54, 1980.
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44
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2.8 Introduction of Multiday Trawlers into the Kerala Fishery
As trawl fishing proved to be very efficient in the exploitation of shrimps and fetched
comparatively good returns, as compared to investments, the proliferation of these units were
noticed during seventies as a result of heavy investment made by people of all walks, in the
field of fisheries (Report of the Expert Committee, 2007,). By the close of the 20th century a
new breed of trawlers of the size of 15-17 meters (49-56 feet) in Over All Length (OAL) for
demersal trawling at a depth of 350-400 meters in multiday fishing of 6-8 days was introduced
(Balakrishnan Nair, 2000). Multiday trawl fishing started in 1996. It was intensified in 1998.
Multiday trawlers brought more Cephalopods and less Penaeid prawns than single day trawlers.
Non- Penaeid prawns (deep sea shrimp) occurred in the catches of multiday trawlers. The
species composition of multiday trawlers catches are Penaeid prawn, Threadfin Breams,
Cephalopods, Carangids Ribbonfishes, Soles, Lizardfishes, Stomatopods and Perches.
The new multiday trawlers were launched and tried by the investors of Munambam in
Ernakulam District (Balakrishnan Nair, 2000). Its successful operation made the fishermen
investors in Shakthikulangara also copy the model and this further strengthened the trawler
fishery of Kerala. Thus the concept of stay-over fishing emerged in Kerala. From the book of
registration of the Neendakara fisheries office and Munambam, the author could find the
boats varying from 48 feet to 70 plus ft. Thus, trawler fishery has emerged to be a very
dominant industry in Kerala fishery.
2.9 Summary
The early years of fishing in the world, the evolution of trawlers in the fishing fleet from
14th to 19th century and the 20th century are recapitalized in the beginning of the chapter. By
1960 onwards, the technological improvements of the trawl fishing were used all over the
world.
The introduction of electronic equipments in the modern trawlers, the use of
contemporary electronics including navigation and communication equipments, fish
detection devices and equipments in control and gear monitor and the use of
navigational instruments such as auto pilot and GPS were used for maneuvering the
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vessel in harbour and at sea and these formed the focus of the chapter in sections 2.2 to 2.4.
The trawl net and its characteristics and the cod end and the types of trawlers were the
discussions in section 2.4.
The history of the trawl fishery in Kerala, with the pre mechanization phase,
mechanization and the post mechanization phase with the evolution of different size of trawlers
ranging from 25 fleet and 28 feet, the growth of trawlers from 1960 to 1980 and the introduction
of above 30 feet trawlers were discussed and found out that there were more than 3,000
trawlers in Kerala during the year 1980. The introduction of modern trawlers and the technology
accompanied by it were the turning points in the history of trawl fishery in Kerala. The significance
of the year 1980 in trawl fishery in Kerala and the regulations and institutions formulated and
adopted in Kerala Fishery were the pivot of the discussions in the chapter and with a stress on
Kerala Marine fisheries Regulation Act 1980 were taken into consideration in the chapter.
The details of the trawl ban introduced in Kerala, the coming of the multiday or stay over
fishing trawlers in Kerala fishery were also had its own space in the chapter.
Having analyzed the history of evolution trawlers in the world and in Kerala fishing
industry, it is worthwhile to look into the proliferation of the number of trawlers in Kerala
fishery from 1980-2009 (30 years considered for the study).
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