Water menace...Continued

Water menace...

We are surrounded by water and we live by water. But somehow the same water which sustains us, turns out to be our chastiser also. The sea from one side grabs our village little by little every year, and the river once in a while creates havoc by flooding and so on. This time the flooding river broke open in the middle of the village and left some of us homeless and many of us without our fishing equipments.

The government need to help us on a war time urgency.

Commercial Fishing etc...

Commercial fishing provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions. Commercial fishermen harvest almost all aquatic species, from tuna, cod and salmon to shrimp, krill, lobster, clams, squid and crab, in various fisheries for these species. Commercial fishing methods have become very efficient using large nets and sea-going processing factories. Many new restrictions are often integrated with varieties of fishing allocation schemes (such as individual fishing quotas), and international treaties that have sought to limit the fishing effort and, sometimes, capture efficiency.

Fishing methods vary according to the region, the species being fished for, and the technology available to the fishermen. A commercial fishing enterprise may vary from one man with a small boat with hand-casting nets or a few pot traps, to a huge fleet of trawlers processing tons of fish every day.

Commercial fishing gears today are surrounding nets (e.g. purse seine), seine nets (e.g. beach seine), trawls (e.g. bottom trawl), dredges, hooks and lines (e.g. long line and handline), lift nets, gillnets, entangling nets and traps.

In addition to the above, commercial fishing can also be thought of as encompassing "pay to fish" enterprises, which provide anglers with controlled access to stocked lakes, ponds or canals. These provide fishing opportunities outside of the permitted seasons and quotas applied to public waters. In the United Kingdom, commercial fisheries of this sort charge access fees, with prices ranging from £2 to £25 per day. In North America, establishments usually charge for the fish caught, by length or by weight, rather than for access to the site although some establishments charge both types of fees. Prices for fish caught in North American "pay to fish" waters are generally in the range of $0.10 to $0.20 per cm or from $5.00 to $10.00 per kg.
Preservation


Ancient methods of preserving fish included drying, salting, pickling and smoking. All of these techniques are still used today but the more modern techniques of freezing and canning have taken on a large importance.

Fish curing includes methods of curing fish by drying, salting, smoking, and pickling, or by combinations of these processes have been employed since ancient times. On sailing vessels fish were usually salted down immediately to prevent spoilage; the swifter boats of today commonly bring in unsalted fish. Modern freezing and canning methods have largely supplanted older methods of preservation. Fish to be cured are usually first cleaned, scaled, and eviscerated. Fish are salted by packing them between layers of salt or by immersion in brine. The fish most extensively salted are cod, herring, mackerel, and haddock. Smoking preserves fish by drying, by deposition of creosote ingredients, and, when the fish are near the source of heat, by heat penetration. Herring and haddock (finnan haddie) are commonly smoked. Kippers are split herring, and bloaters are whole herring, salted and smoked. Sardines, pilchards], and anchovies are small fish of the herring family, often salted and smoked and then preserved in oil. Fish are dried under controlled conditions of temperature, humidity, and air velocity. Since the dried product is relatively unappetizing and rehydrating slow, other preservation methods are common.

In the past, fishing vessels were restricted in range by the simple consideration that the catch must be returned to port before it spoils and becomes worthless. The development of refrigeration and freezing technologies transformed the commercial fishing industry: fishing vessels could be larger, spending more time away from port and therefore accessing fish stocks at a much greater distance. Refrigeration and freezing also allow the catch to be distributed to markets further inland, reaching customers who previously would have had access only to dried or salted sea fish.

Canning, developed during the 19th century has also had a significant impact on fishing by allowing seasonal catches of fish that are possibly far from large centres of population to be exploited. For example: sardines.

Cultural references:
Statue of fishermen in Petrozavodsk, Russia.
Fishing is a widely used as a metaphor though as such it is possibly ambiguous. On the one hand, fishing with a net has nuances of gathering by honest effort. For example, in the New Testament, Jesus is reported to have said to his disciples: Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19.

On the other hand, fishing with bait or lure sometimes has nuances of catching by deception, possibly with an implication of greed on the part of the victim. For example, the expression "fishing expedition" (usually used to describe a line of questioning), describes a case where the questioner implies that he knows more than he actually does in order to trick the target into divulging more information than he wishes to reveal. Other examples of fishing terms that carry a negative connotation are: "fishing for compliments", "to be fooled hook, line and sinker" (to be fooled beyond merely "taking the bait"), and the internet scam of Phishing in which a third party will duplicate a website where you would put sensitive information (such as ebay or a bank site) in order to obtain it.

Fishing: Origins etc...

Origins:

Fishing is an ancient practice that dates back at least to the Mesolithic period which began about 10,000 years ago.[3] Archaeological features such as shell middens,[4] discarded fish bones and cave paintings show that sea foods were important for survival and consumed in significant quantities. During this period, most people lived a hunter-gather lifestyle and were, of necessity, constantly on the move. However, where there are early examples of permanent settlements (though not necessarily permanently occupied) such as those at Lepenski Vir, they are almost always associated with fishing as a major source of food.

The Neolithic culture and technology spread worldwide between 4,000 and 8,000 years ago. With the new technologies of farming and pottery came basic forms of all the main fishing methods that are still used today.

Ancient representations:

The ancient river Nile was full of fish; fresh and dried fish were a staple food for much of the population.[5] The Egyptians invented various implements and methods for fishing and these are clearly illustrated in tomb scenes, drawings, and papyrus documents. Simple reed boats served for fishing. Woven nets, weir baskets made from willow branches, harpoons and hook and line (the hooks having a length of between eight millimetres and eighteen centimetres) were all being used. By the 12th dynasty, metal hooks with barbs were being used. As is fairly common today, the fish were clubbed to death after capture. Nile perch, catfish and eels were among the most important fish. Some representations hint at fishing being pursued as a pastime.

Fishing scenes are rarely represented in ancient Greek culture, a reflection of the low social status of fishing. There is a wine cup, dating from 510�500 BC, that shows a boy crouched on a rock with a fishing-rod in his right hand and a basket in his left. In the water below, a rounded object of the same material with an opening on the top. This has been identified as a fish-cage used for keeping live fish, or as a fish-trap. It is clearly not a net. This object is currently in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.[6]

Pictorial evidence of Roman fishing comes from mosaics which show fishing from boats with rod and line as well as nets. Various species such as conger, lobster, sea urchin, octopus and cuttlefish are illustrated.[7] In a parody of fishing, a type of gladiator called retiarius was armed with a trident and a casting-net. He would fight against the murmillo, who carried a short sword and a helmet with the image of a fish on the front.

The Greco-Roman sea god Neptune is depicted as wielding a fishing trident.
The Moche people of ancient Peru depicted fisherman in their ceramics. [8]

Ancient literature:
There are numerous references to fishing in ancient literature; in most cases, however, the descriptions of nets and fishing-gear do not go into detail, and the equipment is described in general terms. An early example from the Bible in Job 41:7: Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?.

The Greek historian Polybius (ca 203 BC-120 BC), in his Histories, describes hunting for swordfish by using a harpoon with a barbed and detachable head.[9] Oppian of Corycus, a Greek author wrote a major treatise on sea fishing, the Halieulica or Halieutika, composed between 177 and 180. This is the earliest such work to have survived intact to the modern day. Oppian describes various means of fishing including the use of nets cast from boats, scoop nets held open by a hoop, spears and tridents, and various traps "which work while their masters sleep". Oppian's description of fishing with a "motionless" net is also very interesting:
The fishers set up very light nets of buoyant flax and wheel in a circle round about while they violently strike the surface of the sea with their oars and make a din with sweeping blow of poles. At the flashing of the swift oars and the noise the fish bound in terror and rush into the bosom of the net which stands at rest, thinking it to be a shelter: foolish fishes which, frightened by a noise, enter the gates of doom. Then the fishers on either side hasten with the ropes to draw the net ashore.

From ancient representations and literature it is clear that fishing boats were typically small, lacking a mast or sail, and were only used close to the shore.

In traditional Chinese history, history begins with three semi-mystical and legendary individuals who taught the Chinese the arts of civilization around 2800�2600 BC: of these Fu Hsi was reputed to be the inventor of writing, hunting, trapping, and fishing.

***As stated earlier, the vast majority of our planet is under water. Many species of fish either travel long distances in their normal habits or the populations inhabit large areas. Given these facts, establishing accurate population estimates is virtually impossible. Fishing gears and efficiency of commercial harvest have increased significantly and also contribute to attaining maximum sustainable yield.

There are over 22,000 species of fish, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization monitors commercial harvest of slightly over 1,100 species.
…it seems clear that the commercial fishing fleets from the western coast of South America (Chile and Peru) and Southeast Asia (China, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Japan) harvest more fish than other parts of the planet.

From the industrial revolution to current times commercial harvesting equipment improved significantly and also contributed to declines in populations and leveling of harvest volumes. Regardless of the cause, wild populations of many fish and shellfish declined in the latter half of the twentieth century.

Fishing gears are largely unchanged from ancient times. Nets of various types are the most commonly used commercial fishing gear. The basic concept of a net, regardless of the configuration, is the same today as it was when ancient man first wove fibers together to make nets. Impaling devices such as spears and harpoons are also unchanged from ancient times. There are numerous types of traps in use, mainly for trapping crustaceans (lobsters, crabs, crayfish), and those have ancient origins. Fishing gears have become more efficient, but in subtle ways. Prior to about 1980, trawls (nets pulled behind a boat) could attain only a limited depth and were nonspecific in their catch. Significant research efforts resulted in trawls that could be fished deeper (up to 8,200 feet, or 2,500 meters) and had devices that would tend to exclude mammals or turtles. Harpoons are not routinely used in the twenty-first century, and spears have evolved to spear guns for individual fishermen. Trap materials have changed with the advent of polymers, but the basic configurations have not changed for hundreds of years. The major change that occurred is not in gears, but in the boats[crafts].

Commercial fishing boats/ crafts are capable of staying at sea for months at a time, giving fishermen the ability to fish anywhere in the world. Technological advances in engines, fuels, and boat designs, coupled with international treaties that allow foreign fishing fleets safe harbor, increased the efficiency of commercial operations. Harvested animals can be cleaned on board and frozen at –76°F (–60°C) for extended storage. Large companies evolved to more efficiently harvest fish, and those companies developed the concept of multiple fishing boats and a mother ship for processing and storing fish. It is not uncommon to find Japanese fishermen in the North Atlantic Ocean harvesting giant bluefin tuna. Fishermen also take advantage of the other forms of commercial transport, taking some of their harvest to nearby ports and consigning them to air freight companies for transport back to home bases. Frozen giant bluefin tuna are flown from New York to Tokyo regularly.

Restrictions on commercial harvest have been common since the early 1980s. As populations declined, state or federal regulatory agencies restricted harvest by establishing quotas (limited number of fishing licenses), restricting harvest volume (limitation on volume, which can be expressed per day, week, or season), or restricting gears (numbers of traps, length of nets, number of nets).

International agreements are in place that define who can fish where, seasons for fishing, and gear acceptance. Most countries claim some distance from their shores as available only to local fishermen.

Whole communities are in significant economic crisis. New industries are not readily apparent for a labor force trained in commercial fishing, processing, and distribution of fish and shellfish. Since the 1980s the fisheries have been in sharp decline, and with it a way of life. Some fishermen, with modified gears, are able to switch species.

Creative marketing techniques also opened opportunities for commercial fishermen.
—Paul B. Brown

Bibliography:
Levinton, Jeffrey S. Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology, 2d ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Moyle, Peter B., and Joseph J. Cech, Jr. Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology, 3d ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1996.
Von Brandt, Andres. Fish Catching Methods of the World. 3d ed. Surrey, Great Britain: Fishing News Books, 1984.

Fishing...

Fishing—usually by hand, club, spear, net, and possibly by hook—was known to prehistoric people. It was practiced by the ancient Persians, Egyptians, and Chinese, and it is mentioned in the Odyssey and in the Bible. It is a major means of subsistence and livelihood today, not only in societies such as those in the South Pacific but also in most nations of the world. [Columbia Encyclopedia]

We live on a wet planet. Water comprises greater than 70 percent of Earth, and that habitat is home to far more vertebrates than the dry portion of the planet.

The average depth of oceans is over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). Over 84 percent of the oceans are deeper than 6,500 feet (2,000 meters). The Marianas Trench in the western Pacific Ocean is the deepest place at 36,000 feet (11,000 meters), deeper by a mile than the altitude of Mount Everest (29,000 feet, or 8,845 meters high).

Fishing is the art and science of catching animals that live in water. This pursuit can be for fun or profit. Recreational angling is often practiced as an art, with little to no expectation of actually catching and keeping a fish for personal use. In commercial fishing, there is an expectation of catching and keeping fish or invertebrates and an expectation of selling those animals for profit. This article will focus on commercial fishing.

Hunting and gathering animals that live in water is an ancient form of food gathering. Today, aquatic animals caught from wild populations are one of, if not the last, major food category we still predominantly hunt and gather. Virtually all of the other foods we consume are grown in agricultural operations. However, we are in the early phases of a major transition from hunting and gathering fish and shellfish to agricultural production (aquaculture) of aquatic animals. [Food & Culture Encyclopedia]

Fishing and Fishermen in the West Coast...

The southwestern coast of India, consisting mainly of Kerala and south Konkan, is one of the richest in the country in terms of biodiversity, abundance of fish stocks, cultural diversity of fishing communities, and historical traditions. With a recorded history of fishing life and trade relations with far-flung countries like ancient Greece, Rome and the Arabs going back almost 2,000 years, life in this coastal belt has been comparatively friction-free and prosperous. There was an abundant trade in spices and other valuables through major ports like Panthalayani and Kodungallur -- known as Fandalini and Muziris in Arab and Roman texts -- and the sea has been bountiful.

Kerala is one of the nine maritime states in India and it is also the largest fish-producing state in the country. It contributes more than 30% of India’s total marine fish production and over 36% of marine exports. Kerala enjoys a long and unbroken coastline that extends for 590 km; nine out of its 14 districts have the Arabian Sea as their western border. Over 75% of Kerala’s population depends on marine products as a source of protein in their diet. Vendors cycle to every house carrying baskets of fish, venturing to even the remotest villages on the eastern side.
The richness of marine wealth is one reason for the predominant role of fisheries in the economy. Kerala has an economic zone of 36,000 sq km of sea that is rich in diversity; over a hundred varieties of fish are found here. According to a 1976 estimate, the fishery resource potential of the continental shelf of Kerala is around 8 lakh tonnes a year, of which 4 lakh is considered to be from the inshore sea area of 0-50 m depth. In 1991, the working group on resources, constituted by the Government of India, estimated Kerala’s marine potential to be 5.70 lakh tonnes per annum.

The abundance and diversity of fish resources in Kerala’s inshore sea, arguably one of the richest in the world, is a result of unique geographical and oceanographic features. These shores lie within 20 degrees north of the equator, with relatively warm and stable climatic conditions round the year. Besides, the Arabian Sea estuaries are nourished by 41 rivers originating in the Western Ghats; in fact, a river joins the sea at every 15 km on an average, providing fresh water and the right mix of salt and nutrients for all forms of marine life to flourish. Sandy and muddy sub-strata, large coral reefs, rich benthic vegetation and coastal protective plants like mangroves are other important factors that aid biodiversity. The two monsoon cycles, occurring every year, enrich the sea with oxygen and fresh water. Ideal conditions like these that foster marine diversity and high primary productivity have enabled fishing communities to enjoy a stable and prosperous life over generations.

Naturally, fishing is one of the main economic activities here. According to recent figures, more than 1.5 million people depend on fisheries for their livelihood. Official figures state that there are around 150,000 active fishermen along the Kerala coast, working both in the traditional artisanal sector as well as in the mechanised sector.

Till 1989 and 1990, fish catches were abundant reaching almost 6.5 lakh tonnes. Then there was a steady drop. In 1991, it dropped to 5.64 lakh tonnes, and, the next year, 5.61 lakh tonnes. In the past one decade there has been a steady fall in marine catches, putting a lot of economic pressure on Kerala’s fishing populations. This is one of the primary reasons behind the growing social strife in coastal regions. As pressure on marine resources mounts, so too have social tensions in Kerala’s coastal villages.

A major reason behind changes in the socio-economic life of people in this highly skilled, traditional area of operation is the advent of mechanised fishing and the pressures generated as a result of the policies of economic liberalisation and globalisation in recent years.

Traditional skills were the mainstay of fishing operations till the late-1960s. These artisans had developed their own skills based on rural technology, beautifully described in books of fiction like Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s Chemmeen, a book about the life of fishermen living along the Arattupuzha coast in Alapuzha. They developed various types of craft and gear adapted for various types of fishing operations. For example, kattamarams -- known as the only unsinkable craft in the world -- were designed as the craft most appropriate for launching and landing on surf beaches. They can be propelled manually or by wind power. The ‘mesh size’ of nets was the main principle behind traditional gear technology. For each species, particular gear with a specific mesh size is designed so that it catches that species alone, and among them only the adult fish, thereby causing minimum damage to the environment and preserving future fish stocks.

The accumulated knowledge system of traditional fishing is substantial and has stood the test of time for thousands of years. Traditional fisherfolk refer to the famed ‘shore-seine’ operation as the best example of the superior and sophisticated scientific and technical skills of artisan fisherfolk. From the beach, expert fishermen could examine a shoal of fish migrating at a distance of 2-3 km away from the shore. They could judge the type of fish in the shoal, the depth at which the fish were travelling, and their speed. Scholars in the fisheries sector say that traditional fishermen were extremely careful in their operations and did nothing to damage the marine ecosystem.

Historians say that this traditional knowledge system goes back to early historical times in south India, indicated in the rich Sangam literary texts that belong to the period between the 3rd century BC and the 3rd century AD. According to scholars, the southern region -- known generally as tamilakam, which included almost the entire region south of the Deccan -- was divided into five geographical segments. [In the Sangam literature there is a description of different eco-zones. They represented different geographical regions with the existence of different natural resources. The reference to these zones indicates the uneven development in the different regions. This also indicates the kind of economic activities followed by the people in these different zones.] The people who inhabited the coasts, known as neithal,[The fourth eco-zone consisted of the coastal region. The main economic activity of the people was fishing, salt making and trade in fish and salt. They were petty traders who carried their goods and sold them in different villages of South India. They built boats and carried the trading activities to overseas trading centres. Later they emerged into rich urban categories. It was in the coastal region that we find the first signs of urbanization. Many multi-storied houses were built here. They exchanged salt and fish for rice and other products.] were described as meenavar or paravar in Sangam literature. The Sangam texts refer to a variety of fishing operations and also mention fish like ayala (salmon) and sraku (shark), still popular in the region. They speak of marakkalam, a wooden vessel that floats on the water. Those who operated the marakkalams later came to be known as marakkars, a seafaring community in the south.

Social life in the southern coastal region has an interesting history: the ancient tribes were described as meenavars and paravars, and, through migration from the interior came other groups like the vambamuriyars, koshers and moka-aryas or mokayars. They are the dominant castes in the coastal villages, and they worship Kurumba Bhagavathy, a Dravidian deity.
Traditional Hindu fisherfolk are divided into 12 sub-castes on the southwestern coast, prominent among them being the mokayas, mukkuvas, valers, nulayars, arayas and mokaveeras. For administrative purposes, the groups were clubbed as one -- the dheevaras --- through a 1961 government order giving them Other Backward Community (OBC) status because of their social and educational backwardness. These communities were ruled and controlled by the sthanis (seniors) or kadakkoties (sea courts) of the respective area, who obtained theetturams, or decrees, from the local rulers; they had de facto control over the social and economic life of the people. These systems were in force till the end of the colonial administration that had accepted the kadakkoties, or sea-courts, as a legitimate quasi-judicial authority in matters relating to seafaring activities.

The present demographic patterns among fishing communities in the south of India have remained unchanged for years: Muslims and Christians have been part of coastal society since the advent of these religions in the region. The demographic strength of both these communities is almost equal, with 27% of the population being backward caste Hindus, 30% Muslims and 37% Catholic Christians, mainly Latin Catholics who are confined to southern parts of Kerala.

-N P Chekkutty

[N P Chekkutty is a Kerala-based journalist. He is presently Executive Editor of Tejas. This is the first in a series of articles on the communal polarisation of Kerala’s fisher community, researched as part of the CCDS-InfochangeIndia Research Fellowships 2006.]

FISH, FISHING in the BIBLE

Animals living in water and breathing through gills; the profession and/or practice of catching fish to supply a family or society's need for food. Fish abounded in the inland waters of Palestine, was well as in the Mediterranean.

Old Testament: Fish are mentioned often in the Bible but not by the different kinds. Fish were a favorite food and a chief source of protein (Numbers 11:5; Nehemiah 13:16). The law regarded all fish with fins and scales as clean. Water animals that did not have fins and scales were unclean (Leviticus 11:9-12).

Methods of catching fish included angling with a hook (Job 41:1), harpoons and spears (Job 41:7), use of dragnets (John 21:8), and thrown hand nets (Matthew 4:18). Fish caught in the Mediterranean were brought to ports such as Tyre and Sidon. The Sea of Chinnereth or Galilee was also a fishing center. The fish were preserved in salt and brought to Jerusalem where they were sold at a specially named “Fish Gate” in the city. The strong currents of the Jordan River carried many fish to the Dead Sea where they died (Ezekiel 47:7-11).

References to fishing as an occupation are rare in the Old Testament because, for the most part, in Old Testament times the Mediterranean coast was controlled by the Philistines and Phoenicians. The Israelites depended largely on foreign trade for their fish (Nehemiah 13:16). Two Old Testament texts (Song of Solomon 7:4; Isaiah 19:10) speak of fishpools and fish ponds, possibly an indication of commercially raised fish or of fish farming.

The job of fishermen included catching the fish, salting and marketing the fish, mending nets, and keeping fishing boats in repair (Ezekiel 26:5; Mark 1:19).

The most famous Old Testament fish was the great fish of the Book of Jonah (Jonah 1:17), one God prepared especially for the occasion and one whose species the Old Testament does not indicate.

New Testament: During New Testament times commercial fishing businesses were conducted on the Sea of Galilee by fishermen organized in guilds (Luke 5:7,Luke 5:11). Fishermen were hard workers, crude in manner, rough in speech and in their treatment of others (John 18:10). Fishermen owned their ships, took hirelings into their service, and sometimes joined to form companies (Mark 1:20; Luke 5:7).

Fish provided food for the common people (Matthew 14:17; Matthew 15:34). The risen Lord ate fish with the disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24:42) and by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:13). The primary method of preparing fish was broiling (John 21:9). The most famous New Testament fish was the one used to pay the Temple tax for Jesus and Peter (Matthew 17:27).

Theological: The Bible contains numerous figurative uses of fish and fishing. Human helplessness is compared to fish taken in a net (Ecclesiastes 9:12; Habakkuk 1:14). Fish caught in a net symbolized God's judgment (Psalms 66:11; Ezekiel 32:3). Jesus mentioned fishing when He called disciples to be witnesses (Matthew 4:18-19). Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a net thrown into the sea and loaded with fish of many varieties (Matthew 13:47).

In early Christian churches, the Greek word for fish (ichthus) came to be interpreted as a cipher for Jesus. The first letter of each of the Greek words for “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour” spell ichthus. We do not know when this cipher was first used; but once the identification was made, the fish became a standard Christian symbol.
-Gary Hardin

[Copyright Statement: These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information: Butler, Trent C. Editor.. "Entry for 'FISH, FISHING'". "Holman Bible Dictionary".. 1991.]

Erayumanthurai in Peril, July 2008