GENERAL

FISH AND FISHERIES

FISH AND FISHERIES

Water resources: The district is not richly endowed with fluvial waters. The Pravara river with its tributary, Mula, joins the Godavari, running along the north-east border of the district. The Kukdi and the Ghod as tributaries of the Bhima run along the south-western border. The tributaries, the Kari and the Merwari of the Sina, run along the south-east border of the district.

Fishermen in the district take advantage of the riverine fisheries mainly in the Ghod river at Chinchani, in the Pravara at Toka in Newasa taluka for only six months in a year.

There are 13 irrigation tanks with a total area of about 2,580 hectares; out of these Bhandardara (1,012 hectares), Musalwadi (202 hectares) and Visapur (522 hectares) are perennial and suitable for the development of fisheries. A tank admeasuring 816 hectares, under the control of Ahmadnagar municipality for water-supply to the town, is also undertaken for fish culture. The tanks under the control of Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayats are, however, short seasonal. The total area brought under fish culture in the district is 2,552 hectares.

Fishes: Fish catch from riverine resources comprises mainly cat fishes and local minor fishes. The important varieties of fishes occurring naturally in the water resources of the district are as follows:—

The fishing nets found to be used in the district are known as ' Pagir' or ' Phek Jal', Gill net or ' Phasali Jal' and Drag net or ' Pati Jal'.

Fishermen: There are 1,107 fishermen in the district, out of whom 455 are full-time and 652 are part-time workers. Most of these fishermen are 'Pardeshi Bhois.' and 'Kahars'. Some of them cultivate water-melons or prepare ' chana-phutana' and murmura as a subsidiary means of their livelihood.

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