Asian-Pacific Aquaculture 2019

June 19 - 21, 2019

Chennai Tamil Nadu - India

RECREATIONAL FISHING AS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY IN MEGHALAYA, INDIA

Balkam R Sangma
Directorate of Fishereies Shillong, Meghalaya
balkamrsangma@gmail.com
 
Dr. Arpita Sharma
arpitasharma@cife.edu.in
 

The age old traditions of recreational fishing practices accounts to about 76% of the world's exclusive economic zone and offers significant revenue generations. Realising its importance, a study was conducted with the objective of documenting the entrepreneurial activities in the area of recreational fishing in Meghalaya. The case study method, interview and observation method trough participation in the angling competition were used in combination to achieve the objective. Besides, nomothetic approach with the aim of 'averaging' was also used by way of interviews so as to synergize the two approaches. Based on the high intensity of recreational fishing 3 districts (40 Sample size: 40% Male 60% Female) were considered as the locale of the study Viz, East Khasi, Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi District. Instead of taking a circuitous route of collecting data, it was thought that participation in angling competition be done by the researcher himself as we were swayed by the cogent argument of direct participation being more convincing. Participation in this was done by the researcher in the angling competition which was held by an entrepreneur on 18th of October 2014 in Ur-Masi-U-Joh, East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya and  also in the competition 'First Catch and Release Angling Competition', organized by the Department of Fisheries, Meghalaya, on 20th October, 2014 to understand the nuances of the sport.. Percentage analysis, the descriptive analytical tool was done by analyzing different socio-economic variables including the income derived from revenue collection and fish culture from the pond. Lorenz curve and Gini index coefficient were used to graphically represent the inequality in income. Z-test was used to test the hypothesis. The age profile of the entrepreneurs ranges from 21-69 years. Nearly 35% of them belong to age group >59 years, followed by age group of 31-40 and 41-50 % whose share constitutes 22.5%. About 20% of the entrepreneurs belong to the age group of 20-30%. Almost 88% of the respondent reported that they are married as against 12 % of entrepreneurs who are single. 52.5% of the entrepreneurs received primary education followed by 27.5% who completed higher secondary education, 7.5% received secondary education and 2.5% graduates. 57% belong to a nuclear family and 43% of the entrepreneurs belong to a joint family.75% of the entrepreneurs have a family members ranging from 6-10 nos. followed 15% who have 11-15Nos. and 10% with 1-5 nos. Almost 50% of the entrepreneurs stated agriculture as primary occupation followed by 25% who derived income from fishery. 17.5% are engaged in small scale business and 10 % constitutes other occupation. 50% of the respondent reported to have a land holding of worth < Rs.50 Lakh, 35% in the range of Rs. 50-1 crore, 12.5% in the range of Rs. 1 crore-1.5 crore and 2.5% with > Rs. 1.5 crore. 77.5 % of the entrepreneurs owned a pond of size 0.1-0.3 ha as against 22.5% of respondent with pond size of 0.3-0.6 ha. A minimum of 350kg and a maximum of 800 with an average of 506.25 kg of production of fish were reported by the entrepreneurs.47.5% of the entrepreneur's produces 300-470 kg of fish followed by 32.5% who produces 471-640 Kg. 20% represents the entrepreneurs with production ranging from 471-640 kg. 47.5% earns Rs 30,000-60,000/- from fish culture followed by 32.5% who earns 60,000-90,000/-, 25% earns Rs. 90,000-1,20,000/- and 17.5% of the entrepreneurs earns Rs.1.2-1.5 lakh. About 47.5% of the entrepreneurs earns about Rs. 20,000-25,000/- through fee collection from recreational fisheries per month followed by 40% and 12% with monthly earing in the range of Rs. 25,000-30,000/- and Rs.30,000-35,000/- respectively. Lorenz curve and Gini Index revealed income is nearly equally distributed among the entrepreneurs under study. There was a significant difference between the incomes earned from revenue collection and fish culture in pond leading to the decision in rejecting the null hypothesis. Income earned from fee collection provided much needed income than the fish culture.