KOCHI: The first edition of Kadalarivukal (traditional knowledge of fishermen) being compiled by the Department of Fisheries will be released by March, said Fisheries Minister K Babu.
The Minister said this at the state- level workshop organised in Kochi the other day.
As part of collecting and compiling the data on traditional knowledge from the fishing community, the Department of Fisheries had organised three zonal workshops involving fishermen.
“It will be published in CD and book form,” Babu said. The Minister said sustainable methods had to be followed for fishing.
Fishermen of previous generations were aware of sustainable fishing practices even before modern fishing equipment were introduced in fishing sector.
“Such practices have to be recorded for the benefit of the coming generation. When breakwaters were constructed, it was fishermen who provided valuable suggestion than expert scientists. Therefore we cannot say traditional knowledge has no scientific basis,” the Minister said.
Though there were isolated attempts to compile traditional knowledge, it is for the first time that the government has evinced interest in it.
‘Alakal,’ the fortnightly of the National Fish Workers Forum (NFF), had embarked on a similar project some time ago.
The State Fisheries Resources Management Society (FIRMA), an agency under the department, is in charge of the Rs.4.57 lakh initiative. The Fisheries Department is stepping in to make sure that the wealth of traditional wisdom is not lost to future generations.