Understanding variations in socio-economic vulnerabilities and the strategies adopted by small scale fishing communities of tropical reservoirs

The present study taken up in two reservoirs in India namely Peechi and Pothundi reservoir assess the vulnerabilities and various management aspects adopted in two reservoirs. Peechi reservoir situated in Peechi-Vazhani wildlife sanctuary was prevented from all fishery enhancement programmes. Pothundi reservoir, a manmade tropical lake though encompassed in Western Ghats biosphere was regularly stocked with Indian Major Carps. Livelihood survey was carried out on the fishers of Peechi and Pothundi reservoirs with the help of a structured schedule. The survey encompassed demographic information, particulars on fisheries and details on economic and marketing aspects of respective reservoir fisheries. The marketing part of the schedule dealt with ranking of various problems faced by the fishermen in the reservoirs using Garrette ranking. Out of the various socio-ecological vulnerabilities of reservoir fisheries communities that was analysed in this study, varied stakeholder interest, human and wild life interference and irregular stocking of fish were identified as the major vulnerabilities faced by them. Relevance of various strategies suggested by fishers in Peechi and Pothundi reservoirs estimated using RFMI (Reservoir fisheries management index) concluded that regular and continuous fish stocking (technical driver) along with allowing gender equity in land based fish production centres (social driver) was suggested as the appropriate strategy to augment the fisher's income from Pothundi reservoir. The study suggested for a possible intervention by practicing fishing holidays in Peechi reservoir during lean months and substituting the lost income with alternative livelihood programmes. The RFMI values for Peechi and Pothundi reservoirs were 52.12 and 68.57 respectively. The study thus emphasized a bottom approach where in the importance of planning at primary stake holders level is ensured. The relevant research ensured adoption of these strategies in local scale along with policy window would definitely provide a better management of reservoir fisheries in tropical countries.