A Comparative Social Study among Artisanal Subsistence Marine Fishers of Sundarbans, Paradeep and Chennai

Abstract

This paper does a comparative study of the socio-economic condition of the artisanal subsistence marine fishers of the three locations of India namely Sundarbans, Chennai and Paradeep. The small-scale artisanal marine fishers of Chandrapur, Gobindapur, Kalinagar, Ganeshpur villages of Kakdwip Subdivision, Sundarbans along with that of Badakalikhada, Bijaychandrapur, Light House and Kharinali, of Paradeep and Nochi Nagar, Light House, Foreshore Estate, Mandaveli, Mylapore of Chennai were asked the standardised questions. Sundarbans, Paradeep and Chennai have three distinct socio-economic conditions prevailing due to the privatisation of the fishery industry and the distinct difference in income.The purpose of this study is to find the socio-economic condition of the artisanal marine fishers of the Sundarbans, Paradeep and Chennai. A descriptive rapid sampling method has been followed, where the fishers have been questioned about their respective socio-economic status. The paper studies the income difference and the effect of the usages of motorised boats in two three-year slots 2015-2018 and 2018-2020 affluence due to more exposure to the technical changes. The study found that the Chennai fishers were more adept to take the advantage of the new technologies of marine fishing thus far more economical stable, the Paradeep fishers were second in economic stability due to their comparative adaptability. The Sundarbans fishers were least adept with the technological changes in marine fishing, consequently they are least affluent.