Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Ethnoecology of Indian sand whiting, Sillago sihama (Forsskal, 1775) from South Konkan coast (Arabian Sea: Northwest coast) of India

Volume 66 Issue 1

L. S. Uskelwar, V. H. Nirmale, M. S. Sawant, S. Y. Metar, R. A. Pawar, A. S. Pawase and M. H. Khanvilka

10.6024/jmbai.2024.66.1.2467-12

Abstract

Ethnoecology is the cross-cultural study of how people perceive and manipulate their environments. Investigations were carried out to collect and document the local ecological knowledge on Sillago sihama and compare the local knowledge on biology with biological studies and published literature. A total of 100 fishers from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts constituted the sample size of the study. The ethnoecological knowledge on the local name and identification of S. sihama, its habitat and fishery season, size at first maturity, food and feeding, and the spawning season was collected. Similarly, the local knowledge of the effect of the lunar cycle and wind direction on the availability of S. sihama has also been documented. The views of fishers on feeding habits, size at first maturity, and spawning season of S. sihama were compared with biological studies and published literature. Mann -Whitney U-test showed agreement between ethnoecology, biological studies, and published literature.

Keywords

Ethnoecology, biological studies, comparative studies, South Konkan Coast

Date : 01-05-2024