Abstract:

The Northeast frontier of India, which has been ranked 6th among the top 25 biodiversity spot in the world demonstrates the absolute dependence of men on nature. Riverine fishery resources of these states comprise 19,150 km of streams and rivers with diversified fish fauna, having both torrential and plain forms but still the old traditional methods of fishing are prevalent and most of the practices followed are primitive and outdated as there is no new and reliable technology available. Some of the existing fishing methods in the hill steams are hooks and line, maze/ barricade, encircling gear, entangling gear, impaling gear, scooping gear, groping, impoundment, indigenous trap and noose fishing. For the large scale fishing destructive practices such as dynamiting and poisoning are employed. Electric fishing is also becoming very popular in some parts.