Ginger Prawn Fishery in Gulf of Kutch: A Seasonal Livelihood for the Traditional Fishermen

Abstract

Seasonal fishery of Metapenaeus kutchensis (ginger prawn) is a significant source of livelihood for the socioeconomically backward part-time fishermen in the Gulf of Kutch region in India. During the southwest monsoon, a temporary but highly productive estuarine condition is created which provides nursery ground for various species of fish and shellfish in the little Rann of Kutch. A large number of prawn postlarvae migrate into the region and provide a short time opportunity to the fishermen for maximum exploitation of the fishery by the use of traditional gears like ‘Gunja’ and ‘Katar jaal’ and crafts like ‘Odie’. This traditional fishery is also known as ‘Pagadia fishery’ when fishermen do the entire fishing operation without the use of ‘Odie’. The sampling study of three selected sites, viz., Surajbari, Madherkhi, and Tikar revealed an annual turnover of around ` 200 million during a short fishing period of two months (August– September). The fishermen involved in the fishery are part-time fishermen as they spend the major part of their life as laborers in the salt pans and adjacent cement factories. The short-term ginger prawn fishery renders them a huge economic opportunity and decides the monetary fate of the family for the rest of the year. However, this irrational overfishing of the juveniles can lead to a complete collapse of the fishery due to the decrease of spawning stock biomass. This can severely disturb the livelihood opportunity of these fishermen and hence proper awareness among the fishermen is presently required. Introduction of alternative livelihood options like cage and pen culture techniques, product diversification, and value addition techniques as well as establishment of proper marketing channel can improve the situation.