Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) In Fisheries Sector of East Coast of India A Resource Book

The East Coast of India has some of the most productive states in terms of aquaculture. West Bengal, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, stand as the top three fish producing states of the East Coast of India. Even though the continental shelf on the East Coast is not as elaborate as compared with the West Coast, nevertheless, the Eastern states have carved a niche for themselves in capture as well as culture fisheries. These states have prudently taken upon themselves, the onus of producing cultured freshwater and brackishwater table fish for the entire country through an eclectic mix of traditional and modern methods of fish culture, following which, diverse traditional knowledge related to various culture methods have evolved over the years. This bears testimony in the chapters on Harvesting and Aquaculture, where maximum ITKs have been recorded. The other chapters on Processing, Therapeutics, and Local Technologies, give an insight into the traditional knowledge related to other aspects of fisheries. This book is a sincere effort towards enriching the data base on Indigenous Technical Knowledge in the fisheries sector with particular reference to the East Coast of India. The editors hope that this book will be of use to all stakeholders.