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| Study of Territorial use rights in small scale Fisheries: Traditional systems of fisheries Mangagement in Pulicat Lake,Tamil Nadu |
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Reference |
| Mathew, Sebastian: 1991 "Study of Territorial use rights in small scale Fisheries: Traditional systems of fisheries Mangagement in Pulicat Lake,Tamil Nadu, FAO:Rome |
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Introduction to the Institution |
| The total catch of the Pulicat lake comprises mainly prawns and mullets.The fishermen practise a system called "padu" to control access to certain fishing grounds.The most important gears from the point of fishery in the "Padu" grounds are stake-nets and drag-nets which are locally known as "suthu valai" mainly used for catching prawns and "badi-valai" used for catching all species.These gears can be used by fishermen who enjoy access rights to Padu grounds. |
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Rules for Management
of the Institution |
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(a) Boundary Rules |
| Spatial: The lagoon is about 60 km in length and 0.2 to 17.5 km in breadth.It has a high flood waterspread area of 460 km square and low flood waterspread area of 250 km square.The lake is confluent with the Bay of Bengal across a bar about 3 km from the Pulicat lighthouse.The deepest portion of the lagoon is in the vicinity of the bar.The best fishing grounds are confined to these water where the padu fishing rights are granted Social: Suthu valai: it ensures equitable access for all the eligible fishermen to all the fishing grounds in the operation Badi valai:it ensures equal opportunities for all the units in the designated grounds. To become a member of Padu system it is essential to become a member of "Talekettu" ie; a village organization of fishermen based on caste and gender.The member is elected by the village council,the membership age being fifteen.Only married fisherman belonging to Talekettu is allowed to participate in the padu system |
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(b) Governance
rules |
| The village council (Panchayat) controls the Padu system |
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(c) Resource Allocation |
| Suthu valai: through lottery system of all the fishermen of the 3 villages under the guidance of the village council, operational time is 12 hours Badi valai:This is under family ownership and the total number of turns depends on the total number of eligible fishermen-the eligibility being marital status, operational time is 24 hours |
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Conflict Resolution Mechanism |
| From 1930 there have been been periodic conflict over the padu rights, as a result of which the padu fishermen had to concede fishing rights in a smaller area of Munthurai padu 1978: It continued with the development of an export market for prawns in 1970 when Kattumarun fishermen attacked the padu villages, as a result of these clashes the padu fishermen had to make further concessions in Munthurai padu 1989:The conflict was further aggravated in 1985 with the eviction of fishermen from Sriharikota island,claiming on the padu waters stating that Govt. authorities had promised them rights to the lake fishery when they were evicted from the island,as a result of which the relocated fishermen were allowed to fish using gillnets for 50 days every year and there were death of nine fishermen. |
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Problems Faced by Institution |
| Due to certain environmental factors the "badi valai" fishing gear is gradually declining.The fishing grounds have become uneven and deep,preventing the use of the gear ,on the northern side it is full of oyesters,thus preventing the operation of badi valai |
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Changes in the Institution over time |
| In response to the pressures from the outsiders,an organization was formed, Association of Traditional lake fishermen of Pulicat.1)when tribal and non fishing caste move into the water they are reminded of their caste and to keep up to their caste based occupation 2)when marine fishermen of same caste move in they are asked to keep their own traditional fishing grounds and methods |
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Purpose |
| Regulation of access rights in the lagoon |
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Country |
| India (Tamil Nadu) |
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Region |
| Pulicat lake |
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Date Of Publication |
| RS-1996 |
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