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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

31

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

33

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

34

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,

35

(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)

36

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.

39

40

41

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

45

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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