Compilation of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Marine Fisheries Sector of Karnataka

Abstract

The research article makes an earnest effort to compile the major Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITKs) prevailing in Karnataka. The major objectives were to document the different FTKIs of the coastal villages of Karnataka and to anlayse the changes in practice as well as to study the perception of the scientists and the fisherfolk on the role of FTKIs in resource management. ITKs categorised under eight groups such as ‘Craft and Gear Making/Maintenance’, ‘Shoal Identification’, ‘Harvesting Methods’, ‘Predicting Natural Hazards’, ‘Preservation Techniques’, ‘Processing’, ‘Medicinal Uses’ and ‘Beliefs & Value systems’ have been collected through personal interview of 400 stakeholders including fisherfolk, farmers, policy makers, development agencies, govt. departments and NGOs with a structured interview schedule, focus group interactions and PLA techniques undertaken in potential maritime pockets of Karnataka state such as Mangalore, Ullal, Thalapadi, Bhadkal, Baithkol, Tadri, Belekeri, Dandebag, Karwar, Sunkeri, etc. free flow of information on ITKs was encouraged and documented everything recorded as such. In the second phase each practice was examined systematically for the scientific rationale by the project associates and the changes in the practice of FTKIs were quantified through interactive sessions and appropriate PLA tools. The scientific rationale behind the selected items as perceived by the scientists and the fisherfolk was also found out at appropriate stages through content analysis. This identification and documentation process of the fisherfolk on ITKs will accelerate the technology transfer as well as the technology refinement in such a way to suit to the needs of the target group as it acknowledges their inherited knowledge and value system and thereby the inclusion of selected FTKIs in the contemporary management measures will augment the resource management strategies.