Artificial fish habitats in traditional fisheries ofsouthwest coast of India

Artisanal fishermen of Trivandrum area in South India are showing keen interest to put up artificial reefs to enhance fish production. Non-govenunental organisations working for the welfare of coastal fishermen are giving financial and moral support to these fishermen to deploy more and more artificial reefs. The results of a study made on such reefs are presented in this paper. Granite stones, truck tyres, coconut tree stumps, concrete well rings and concrete slabs are used for the construction of artificial reefs in this area. A gradual increase in the annual fish catch was noticed at Valiathura (Trivandrum) fish landing centre after the establishment of artificial reefs in this area. It rose from 669.0 tormes in the year 1988 to 857.5 tormes in 1989 and to 1442.8 toimes in 1990. Sepia pharaonis was the major component in the catches from these reefs. Carangoides plagiotaenia, C. ntalabarictis, Lethrinus harak, Selar kalla and Selaroides leptolepis were caught only from the artificial reef region at a point of time. Underwater studies revealed the congregation of large shoals of small reef-dwelling fishes and other bottom living animals around the reefs.