Fishing gears

Various methods to catch fish and other aquatic resources, with or without a gear,

have always been practiced in many countries including Brunei Darussalam. Although

the fundamental principles, i.e. filtering the water, luring and outwitting the prey and

hunting, are the basis for most of the fishing gears and methods used even today, gears

and methods have changed significantly over time, especially with the invention of

synthetic materials and electronic gadgets, and their capture efficiency is obviously

hardly comparable to that of prehistoric times.

A fishing gear is the tool with which aquatic resources are captured, whereas the

fishing method is how the gear is used. Gear also includes harvesting organisms when

no particular gear (tool) or boat is involved. Furthermore, the same fishing gear can be

used in different ways by different fishers. A common way to classify fishing gears and

methods is based on the principles of how the fishes or other preys are captured and, to

a lesser extent, on the gear construction or gear materials used.

Fishing gears mainly two types; modern fishing gear and traditional fishing gears.
 Traditional fishing gears

Traditional fishing gears is a device which could be defined as the fishing gear passed
down from predecessors to present generations.

These gears have their significances because they inherit the traditional knowledge of
the community and the livelihood practices they play enhancing our understanding
on their cultural heritage. There are very few works done on traditional fishing gears
in ANURATHAPURE DISTRIC.

According to the my survey, There are several fishing gears have used in
anurathapure district.

1. Kemana
2. Athango
3. Karakgediya
4. Irittiye
5. Lul kudwa
6. Billi liya, Billi koka ,Billi kokka
7. Mandava
8. Theppama
9. Kaddu dela
10. Nylon net
11. Harpoon
12. Arrow
13. Fishing rod
 Introduction

A survey was conducted by us to find in information in formation about the

traditional fishing gears used in anurathapure districts.

Survey was conducted through the questionnaires prepared by us. And visited some
reservoir in anurathapure districts and collect information through interview
made with the fishermen of those reservoirs.

And about the traditional fishing gears used by them in those reservoirs
were asked.

And the report was prepared traditional fishing gears have mostly used in
SEASONAL TANKS .

And the report was prepared through the information collected through the
survey.
Kemana

 Kemana which could trap fish in set up vertically in mid stream or river in
following water of small stream.
 It is an instrument like a long basket with a close bottom end.
 The closed bottom end wide whereas opened top end is smaller in size
 The kemana is also made of hard but small wooden sticks or ratten.
 It is usually placed after sunset and the fish trapped in it are collected in the
early hours of the mornig.

karakgediya

 Karaka is the basket like.

 Karaka was made of small slicks (nelli tree) which was broad at the bottom and
narrow at the top.
 It was shape like a funnel and hole on top was enough for a man to thrust
his arm in and was about two of tree feet wide at the bottom.
 The fisherman operates the karaka from the edge of the river,stream,tank or
pond.
 If the water course is shallow he operates it by wading in the water.
 The karaka is placed in the water to reach the bottom and the fish that are
trapped in it caught by hand.

Athango

 Athango is the portable hand net ,with a rounded or elliptical framework

made of bamboo, rattan or some others pliable jungle slick.
 The fisher man after selecting suitable place and bury their athango in a
horizonatal positions in the bed of the shallow water ,marking only the stick
handle appears above the surface.
Mandawa

 The fish will be digger with using mandava

 It is the trap method
 Using time is after the sunset and morning time.

Arrow

 an arrow is a fin stabilizes projectile that is launched via a bow, and usually
consists of a long straight stiff with stabilized called fletching, as well as a
weight arrowhead attached to the frond end ,and a slot at the rear end
called the nock for bowstring.
 The fisherman directly point the fish and use the arrow and catch it. it can
use all time a day.

Hapoon

 A harpoon is a long spear like instrument used in fishing, sealing, and marine
mammals.
 It accomplishes this task by implying the target animal and securing it with
barb or togging claws ,allowing the fisherman to use a rope or chain
attached to the butt of the projectile to catch the fish.

Fishing rod

 A fishing rod is a long, flexible rod used by fishermen to catch fish.

 At its simplest, a fishing rod is a simple stick or pole attached to a line
ending in a hook.
 Traditionally roads are made from bamboo,
 In contrast with nets .
 Raw materials used to prepare traditional fishing gears.

Name of the Material of Manufacture

Fishing gear manufacture cost(LKR)
Kemana Cable, slick & roap $500
Athango cable $900
karakkediya Stick(nelli tree),roap $200
irittiye iron $3000
Lul kudwa bamboo _
mandawa Mud _
Theppa bamboo _
Nylon net nyloon $1500_$3000
Kaddu dela Thrad, bait $1800
Harpoon Bamboo,iron $3000
Arrow Bamboo,iron $2000
Fishing rod bamboo _

Source ; filed survey information

 Size of the fishing gears and durability

Name of the
Traditional fishing Length Weight(g/kg) Durability(years)
gear (cm/inch/ft)
kemana 3ft 5kg 5
Athango 5ft - 5
karakkediya 3ft - 3
Iritiya 6ft - 3
Lul kudwa - - 3
Billi liya - - 2
mandava - - 4
Theppama 7ft - 8
Kaddu dela 15ft - 5
Nylon net 20ft - 5
harpoon 4ft - 8
Arrow 6ft - 3
Fishing rod 13ft - 1

Source; filed survey information

Traditional fishing operations time
Gears/method
Operation months of Operation time of the day Operation time
the year (morning/afternoon/evening (hours/day)
night/throughout the day)

Kemana Throughout the year Evening/morning 2/3 h

Athango Dry season Evening/morning 2/3h
Karakkediya Throughout the year Con not define Full night
Iritiye Throughout the year Evening /morning Day & night
Lil kudwa Throughout the year Evening /morning Day
Billi liya Throughout the year Evening /morning Night
Mandava Throughout the year Evening /morning _
Theppama Throughout the year Evening /morning _
Kaddu dela Throughout the year Evening /morning _
Nylon net Throughout the year Evening /morning _
Harpoon Throughout the year Evening /morning Day
Arrow Throughout the year Evening /morning Night
Fishing rod Throughout the year Evening /morning All time
Operation method and times of fishing gears

Source; field survey information

 Targeted fish/ shell fish species and harvest

Traditional fishing Targeted species Average length Harvest /day

Gears/method (common name ) And weight of (kg)
fish

Kemana tilapia W500g _

Athango _ _ _
Karakkediya Snak head W1kg _
Irittiye _ _
Lul kudwa _ _
Billi liya eel W2kg _
mandava _ _
Theppama _ _
Kaddu dela Tilapia/catla W500kg _
Nylon net Prawns W100g _
Harpoon _ _
Arrow eel W1kg _
Fishng rod Tilapia/catla W750g _
Source; filed survey information
 About the fishing gears

Name Modern type Traditional Active Passive fishing

type fishing gear gear
Kemana  
Athango  
Karakkediya  
Irittiye  
Lul kudwa  
Billi liya  
mandava  
Theppama  
Kaddu dela  
Nylon net  
Harpoon  
arrow  
Fishing rod  
Source; field survey information