RAMANATHAPURAM: Change in climate, illegal net usage and other factors are taking a toll on traditional squid (locally known as kanava) fishermen in the district, as the catch has dropped by more than 90% in the recent years. Though the scientists say it is a usual phenomenon, for the fishermen, it is a matter of their existence.
The dawn in Rameswaram breaks with the sight of traditional squid fishermen, over 400 to 500 of them, rowing their thermocol pieces in the shallow water.
“For nearly 20 years, kanava fishing is the source of my bread and butter. Until recently, a few hours of fishing in the shallow water, some three miles off the coast, would have been enough to fetch 10 - 15 kilogrammes of squid, which would fetch around Rs 3,000. But now, the catch has dropped massively.
This week, we were able to get only a few kilogrammes of squid, hardly worth Rs 100 - 150. The condition of the sea is the major reason for the drop in catch. And, adding to it is the usage of banned trawling nets by some fishermen,” said Bakkiyaraj, a traditional squid fishermen from Olaikuda village in Rameswaram, adding the authorities should take action against illegal net usage so that the squid population in the sea could go up.
Arokiyam, a traditional squid fisherman from Rameshwaram, said the cuttlefish (Ottu Kanavai) they get in abundance during the high tide has also dropped in quantity. “Earlier, when fishermen used country boats (kattumaram) we would get 10 - 15 kg per day, now with thermocol floats we are only able to get 5 - 10 kg a day,” he said.
Speaking about the causes, Arokiyam added the squid fishing is done in the shallow waters within 3 to 4 miles in Rameswaram and six miles in Dhanushkodi. “Some fishermen are even using Sangu nets (locally known as Sangu Mal), used for shell fishing/ prawn fishing. Even smaller squids are getting trapped in these nets,” he said.
“We would place floats in shallow waters where kanava would lay eggs. It would be later caught by the fishermen after it grows. But movement of mechanised boats over such floats are destroying it completely,” Arokiyam added
A marine scientist from Ramanathapuram said after rough tide season, the number of squid would be lesser, and the number will increase soon.
Earlier in July, around 300 artificial reef were deployed off the coast of Rameshwaram, at three GPS locations, three nautical miles offshore, at a depth of six metres, to benefit hook-and-line fishermen from the fishing villages of Erakadu, Karaiyur, Kudiyiruppu, Mangadu, Olaikuda, Serankottai, Vadakadu, and Sembai.
The project worth Rs 40 lakh, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India (MOEF&CC) GEF, SGP, UNDP and TERI, will not only increase the fish population, but also serves as a fence to prevent illegal fishing and bottom trawling in the shallow waters.