Dovali, the tribal fishing practices in river Narmada, M.P., India

Abstract

Indigenous techniques are the knowledge obtained by individuals or particular community in a particular region that comes from their own observations, experiences, beliefs or perceptions and those utilize low cost natural resources. Detail knowledge of fishing gear, crafts and fishing methods in use is very essential for scientific and judicious exploitation and management of fishery resources. The present inventory was aimed to generate information and document indigenous fishing techniques practiced along the stretches of river Narmada in Madhya Pradesh. During the survey, an indigenous fishing technique ‘Dovali’ was observed, practiced by the tribes residing around river Narmada at Mandleshwar region, Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh. It is a kind of community fishing which mainly being operated during monsoon and post-monsoon season mainly for catching air-breathing murrels. This fishing supports food supply and livelihood to a large segment of the tribes in Madhya Pradesh. In the present paper, a detail about the ‘Dovali’ is discussed as it is hitherto unreported from different water bodies of India.