~ 191 ~ The Pharma Innovation Journal 2023; SP-12(10): 191-195 ISSN (E): 2277-7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.23 TPI 2023; SP-12(10): 191-195 © 2023 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 09-08-2023 Accepted: 12-09-2023 Tandel Mitul College of Fisheries Science, Kamdhenu University, Navsari, Gujarat, India Tandel Bhavika College of Fisheries Science, Kamdhenu University, Veraval, Gujarat, India Tandel Mayur Senior Technician, CPF India Private Ltd., Surat, Gujarat, India Parmar Jeet Senior Research Fellow, College Fisheries Science, Kamdhenu University, Navsari, Gujarat, India Tandel Lata ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Versova, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Tandel Bhavyata College of Fisheries Science, Kamdhenu University, Veraval, Gujarat, India Timbadia Shriyas Department of Biological Science, California State University Corresponding Author: Tandel Bhavika College of Fisheries Science, Kamdhenu University, Veraval, Gujarat, India Exploring traditional fishing gears and methods in selected villages of Navsari district, Gujarat Tandel Mitul, Tandel Bhavika, Tandel Mayur, Parmar Jeet, Tandel Lata, Tandel Bhavyata and Timbadia Shriyas Abstract Small-scale commercial or subsistence fishing is an example of traditional fishing practices. The local community uses traditional fishing techniques. A wide variety of gears were observed and surveyed, including gill nets (under various names), cast nets, fixed bag nets, encircling gear, crab traps, dol nets, and stick-trap techniques (for mudskippers) and their operation methods were recorded from the selected villages (Krushnapur, Kaniyet, Ranabhatha, and Dholai) of Navsari district. Fishermen in these villages possess important knowledge about the greatest fishing spots, the ideal times to capture a variety of species and the best methods for doing so. The Navsari District in Gujarat is home to several indigenous fishing communities that have relied on fishing as a means of sustenance for generations. However, with changing times and modern fishing techniques, traditional practices have faced challenges. This paper aims to shed light on these indigenous fishing practices, highlighting their cultural significance, sustainable nature, and potential for preservation and promotion. Keywords: Traditional fishing, fishing gears, fishermen, Navsari district 1. Introduction A prominent type of fishing is artisanal fishing, which is described as small-scale fishing in which the fisherman's wealth lies in his fishing gear (boats, motors, nets, and lines), which are prone to rapid depreciation and loss. Many of these fishermen employ traditional methods and gear (Quinn, 2011) [8] . Techniques range from the extremely simple, such as manually collecting or gleaning beach invertebrates, to sophisticated and costly techniques, like purse seining for tuna. Both commercial and artisanal fishermen employ a wide variety of fishing equipment (King, 1995) [5] . Coastal communities in India engage in a variety of fishing and non-fishing activities, and the majority of their income is derived from open-access/common-property resources (Bhatta, 2003) [3] . Efficient fisheries development requires research on traditional fishing rights and the consideration of strategies to promote the more efficient use of currently available fishing equipment and techniques. The relevance of subsistence fisheries has long been recognized (Bhilave, 2018) [4] . According to Data published by CMFRI, there are about 3,332 fishing villages in India. The production from the marine sector has progressively increased by nearly six times during the past 50 years. Much of the fishing efforts are concentrated on the shelf and fall within 2-200 m depth. Analysis of the sectoral trend indicates that the mechanized sector accounted for 68%, motorized 25%, and only 7% was artisanal by yield. Only 7% of the contribution from the artisanal sector yet the total number of non-motorized fishing crafts employed in the sector is nearly 100,000 (Sathiadhas et al., 2014) [7] . Traditional fishing techniques have not been thoroughly studied in terms of their functionality and the rationale behind their use. The indigenous fishing techniques and equipment used to catch squid and cuttlefish along India's southwest coast are widely documented (Mohan, 1983), but there have been no recent attempts by scholars to describe the fishing gear used in the Gujarat region. Therefore, an effort has been made to provide information about the local traditional fishing expertise in the study area. 2. Materials and Methods The research took place in four distinct villages within the Navsari district, namely Krushnapur, Kaniyet, Ranabhatha, and Dholai. The purpose of the study was to document the traditional knowledge pertaining to indigenous fishing equipment and techniques in these aforementioned villages.