World Aquaculture Magazine - September 2021

WWW.WA S .ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • SEP TEMBER 2021 67 and number of advanced fish fingerling required for all wetlands were sourced from neighboring hatcheries. The implementation of scientific culture-based fisheries led to increases in fish yield and fishing days from these wetlands. CommunityOrganization,MobilizationandSensitization Under existing institutional arrangement, the elected secretary of block-level fishers cooperatives lease out the fishery management right to an individual or group of lessees belonging to fisher’s community in exchange for a lease fee. Depending on their financial capacity, lessees arrange inputs for fisheries development. The basic input in these natural wetlands is fish seed. Their financial incapacity limits timely stocking with quality seed in the required quantity. The member fishermen are engaged only in fishing activity on catch-sharing basis (fishers share is 24 percent) in exchange for their labor input. Implementation of sponsored projects in the respective wetlands encouraged fishers to claim a larger share of the catch, resulting in a conflict of interest. On the other hand, the lessees understand that government assistance may dislodge them from their tenural ownership and fishers would become the sole beneficiary. As a result, they started opposing the project launch. Realizing the gravity of unrest and misunderstanding, rapport building and consultation among fishers, lessees, line department and scientists, several interactive meetings, brainstorming and sensitization programs were organized at project sites. The issue was resolved and misunderstandings were removed by explaining to lessees that assistance is purely for fisheries development and empowerment and assuring them of no such plan of dislodging fishers of their rights. In wetlands where catch was shared between lessee and fishers the share percentage of the fishers was increased to 40 percent to extend the dividend of the fisheries enhancement program. Habitat Improvement throughMacrophyteManagement Macrophytes, especially floating varieties, compete for nutrients and obstruct light penetration, affecting plankton productivity that leads to reduced food availability for the filter feeders that are the Fish harvest from oxbow lakes of Bihar. In-house and in-field training programs. ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 6 8 )