An Option for Sustainable Management of Fishery Resources in Deepor Beel Co-management ApproachSujan M. Henkanaththegedara ECS 740: Fall 2007Outline Current status of the fishery Composition 5 exotics 8 protected species (Wildlife protection Act, 1972) 20 economically important 11 collect for ornamental tradeLabeo calbasuBrachydanio rerioNandus nandus Expectation: 90,000 tons/ year (Goswami and Choudhury 1990) Harvest: 245 kg/hectare (980 tons) Comparatively very high yield (AFDC, Assam)Fishery Production Saikia, P A 2005Fisher Community Traditional fishery More than 5000 people/1200 families depend on the fishery Community fishing during winters. Saikia, P A 2005 Saikia, P A 2005Fishery Regulation Authority Assam Fisheries Development Corporation State Fisheries Department Lease government parts for commercial fishery Private land owners also lease their private land New Proposals Development of pen and cage culture for the rearing and propagation fish (Gauhati University, Assam) Government Authority and some interested parties propose aquaculture in fringe areas Declaration of Deepor Beel as a Wildlife SanctuaryProblems Identified Unsustainable fishing practices Declaration of Wildlife Sanctuary Possible impacts of garbage dumping Impacts of siltation Possible impacts of exotic fish Conservation implications for protected species Potential impacts of aquacultureProblems Identified Unsustainable fishing practices Declaration of Wildlife Sanctuary Possible impacts of garbage dumping Impacts of siltation Possible impacts of exotic fish Conservation implications for protected species Potential impacts of aquacultureUnsustainable fishing practices Impacts Harmful fishing methods (eg. small mesh size) Potential overharvesting (small size of fish, possibly collapse the fishery) Possible solutions Closed areas/closed seasons Ban harmful fishing methods Close monitoring of illegal fishing Fisheries co-management(Myers et al. 1997; Hambright and Shapiro 1997 )Declaration of Wildlife Sanctuary Impacts Limitations to the fishery Serious conflicts between local people and government Social and economical problems in local communities Possible Solutions 10-20% core wildlife sanctuary Rest- Reserved wetland (human activities permitted up to some extent)Potential impacts of aquaculture Impacts Introduction of exotic species Pollution Eutrophication (mass fish kills!) Possible Solutions A proper cost-benefit analysis If necessary, based on native species If necessary, locate beyond the fringe areas What to do? Beel fishery is still UNDERUTILIZED. Need to manage the fishery PROPERLY, To meet maximum sustainable yield (MSY) To improve the living standards To fulfill the local protein requirement To reduce the unemployment What is the need of AQUACULTURE?What is Co-management? A partnership arrangement between, Government agencies Local fisher community NGOs Other stakeholders Share the responsibility and authority for the management of a fishery. Integrate local (informal, traditional) and government management systems. Power-sharing between government and fishermen (Pomeroy 1998).What is Co-management?FishersGovernmentAssam Fish. Dev. CooperationState Fish. Dept.Fisheries StakeholdersBoat ownersFish tradersMoney lendersExternal AgentAarnayakGauhati UniversityLocal stakeholdersTourismTransportationFisheries ManagementModified after Pomeroy 1998Co-managementResource-oriented studies to define fishery regulationsMonitoring the fisheryImplementing fishery regulationsOrganize fisheries co-operative societyEnhance fish production and improve living standardsActive government or NGO mediationMaintenance of fisheries co- operative societyProper regulation of fishing permitsBanning harmful fishing methodsSocial welfareModified after Amarasinghe and De Silva 1999Acknowledgements Dr. Achintya N. Bezbaruah, Civil Engineering Department, NDSU for his guidance and support Dr. Prasanta Kumar Saikia, Department of Zoology, Gauhati University, India for kind sharing of data Fellow colleagues for their valuable inputsReferences citedAmarasinghe, U.S. and S.S. De Silva. 1999. Sri Lankan reservoir fishery: a case for introduction of a co-management stratergy. Fisheries Management and Ecology. 6: 387-399. Goswami, B. and A.S. Choudhury. 1990. Deepor Beel- A gold mine for socio-economic upliftment. Press release. INSTER/ Deepor III/ 89- Misc. 3pp. Hambright, K. D. and J. Shapiro. 1997. The 1993 collapse of the Lake Kinneret bleak fishery. Fisheries Management and Ecology. 4: 275- 283, Myers, R. A., J. A. Hutchings and N. J. Barrowman. 1997. Why do Fish Stocks Collapse? The Example of Cod in Atlantic Canada. Ecological Applications. 7: 91-106. Pomeroy, R. S. 1998. A process for community-based fisheries co- management. Naga. January-March. ICLARM