FISHING CRAFT
(Notes for M. Sc and B. Sc students)
Dr. Karri. Rama Rao
M. Sc (Zoo); M. Sc (Psy) M. Ed; Ph. D; PDF (DST); PDF (DBT); D. Lit (Hon)
Asst. Professor
Department of Zoology
Specialization in Fisheries and Aquaculture
Government Degree College
Dr. K. Rama Rao, Asst. Professor of Zoology, Govt. Degree College, Tekkali, Srikakulam Dt. A. P Page 1
FISHING CRAFTS
Fishing crafts are most essential for catching the fish in large scale in water bodies. A
large variety of crafts (boats) have been designed for marine and inland fishing in India.
Crafts are provides platform for fishing operations, carrying the crew.
There are various types of crafts used in different parts depending upon the nature of
water bodies, the age of fish and their species. Some nets are used without craft, however,
others are used with the help of crafts. Generally, locally made crafts may be non-
mechanized or mechanized.
A) Inland waters
Inland waters crafts India is blessed with huge and untapped fishery potential. It has
29000 km of rivers, 0.3 million hectares of estuarine, 0.19 million hectares of backwater
and lagoons, 3.15 million hectare of reservoirs and 0.2 million hectares of floodplain
wetlands and 0.72 hectares of upland lakes. The most important craft were used in
freshwater rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other water bodies in India at various stares are
1.Thermocol Boat 2.Coracle 3.Fibre glass Boat 4.Plank built Boat 5.Hodi Boat 6.Canoe
7.Raft 8.Rubber Tube Platform
1. Thermocol Boat: The thermocol raft is also used to capture fishes in the rivers. This is
made of two to three thermocol pieces tied together and used only for laying and hauling
the fishing gears such as the gill net, castanet and angling.
2. Coracle: Coracles are normally used throughout the river. A modified version of
coracle is fabricated with galvanised plates. Internal diameter ranges between two to
three meters with an inner depth of about 0.5 m. It is also a versatile craft used for laying
and lifting of nets, besides navigation and transport of fish and other materials. Weight of
the Coracles ranges from 10-l5 kg. Usually, two fishermen carry out fishing from a
coracle. Like other canoes, oars are used for propulsion.
3. Fiber glass boat: It is the most common fishing crafts employed in different stretches
of the river. The fishing boat length ranges from three to five metres with a breadth of 1 –
1.5 m.
4. Plank-built Boat: This is the most advanced fishing craft used in the region. These
spindle shaped boats are constructed by joining planks of good quality timber with iron
nails. The boat is painted with coal tar to make joint leak proof and extend the life of
boat. These boats vary in shape and size and depend on where it is being operated.
Dr. K. Rama Rao, Asst. Professor of Zoology, Govt. Degree College, Tekkali, Srikakulam Dt. A. P Page 2
5. Hodi Boat: Those who do fishing in rivers for larger size fishes mainly use this.
Typically, this kind of boat is operated by two fishers and primarily owned by full-time
fishermen in rivers.
6. Canoe: It is made by hallowing out of a single palm tree of varying sizes of 6-10m
long and 2ft wide. One end of this is bulbous and wide and the other end is narrow. It is
propelled by Oar. Traps, cast nets, gill nets are operated from these canoes with a crew of
one person in the reservoir.
7. Raft: Four large pieces of bamboo and place in the bottom, then the shorter ones on top
to form a square. The long pieces will extend from each side by 4 feet and act as
stabilizing pontoons. Everything together tied tightly with rope. A flat bottom craft for
floating or drifting on water.
8. Rubber tube platform: Inflated tubes of motor vehicles are used in the Godavari in
Maharashtra for fishing purposes. A wooden platform 1 sq.m. area is placed over the
rubber tube and tied tightly with rope. It is mostly used in Takari station for hooks and
lines operation and also setting and hauling of gill nets. The empty or ordinary plastic
cans are also used.
1. Thermocol Boat 2. Coracle 3. Fiber glass boat
4. Plank-built Boat 5. Hodi Boat
6. Canoe 7. Raft 8.Rubbertube platform
Dr. K. Rama Rao, Asst. Professor of Zoology, Govt. Degree College, Tekkali, Srikakulam Dt. A. P Page 3
B) Marine waters
There are two main types of devices used to capture fishes in both marine fisheries:
I. Non-mechanised boats (1) Catamaran (2) Dug-out canoes (3) Plank-built canoes (4)
Masula boats (5) Dhinghi (6) Outrigger canoes (7) Built-up boats
II. Mechanized boats (1) Hand line boat (2) Pole and line fishing vessel (3) Trolling
vessel (4) Dol netter: (5) Gill netter: (6) Stern trawlers:
I. Non-mechanized boats
India have a coast line of 8129 Km, and it is spread over 9 maritime states and 4 Union
Territories. Following are the major Gear used for capture fisheries. Non-mechanised
boats The categories of fishing craft types comes under non-machanized are catamaran,
dugout-canoes, plank built canoes, masula boat, built up boats. Marine waters Crafts
(i) Catamaran: The simplest type of fishing craft, a few curved logs of wood joined
together forming a kind of floating raft, such as the ones used along the east coast of
India. Four types of catamarans are prevalent in Indian waters, namely the Orissa type,
Andhra type, Coromandal type and Kanyakumari type.
(ii) Dug-out canoes: A simple type of craft for fishing within short distances from the
coast is a small-sized canoe made by scooping logs of wood in the form of boat. The
“Odams”, “Thonies”, “Vanchies” etc. of the southeast and south-west coasts of India
come under this category. In calm weather, oars may be enough for propulsion; but if
winds and currents prevail, sails may be used.
(iii) Plank-built canoes: This is an enlarged variety of dug-out canoe made of planks on
the sides, largely used in Kerala
(iv) Masula boats: It is made of non-rigid planks sewn together with coir ropes and are
common along Andhra coast.
(v) Dhinghi: This is a carvel type of boat designed and constructed for a variety of
purposes including fishing.
(vi) Outrigger canoes: Sometimes plank-built canoes may be provided with a single
outrigger as in the “rampani” boats used for capturing mackerel in Karnataka.
(vii) Built-up boats: In most of the boats made at present, the carvel type of boats is built
up of planks. The best type of built-up boats is seen in centres along the northeast coast of
India.
Dr. K. Rama Rao, Asst. Professor of Zoology, Govt. Degree College, Tekkali, Srikakulam Dt. A. P Page 4
(i) Catamaran (ii) Dug-out canoe (iii) Plank-built canoe
(iv) Masula boat (v) Dhinghi (vi) Outrigger canoes
(vii) Built-up boats
II. Mechanized boats
With the advent of mechanization of the fishing crafts, small and medium sized boats, 10
to 15 m long, are constructed with engines operated by oil for venturing to distant coastal
areas in search of fishing grounds. The machanised crafts are line boats, trap boats,
dolnetter, gillnetter, trawlers.
(i) Hand line boat: Hand line boats can be operated both in the shallow and deeper
waters. In India the gear usually consists of a few meters of monofilament of 0.5 mm to 1
mm diameter to the end of which is attached a hood. They are used to catch all kinds of
demersal fish from motorized as well as small-mechanised vessels.
(ii) Pole and line fishing vessel: Pole and line fishing vessels are fitted with a narrow
platform protruding all round the vessel at deck level, outside the bulwarks. It is a
wooden craft 12.5m long and 3m wide at the stern, made from teak, coconut or aini
wood. The back end is provided with a broad raised fishing platform. The propulsion of
the craft is by sail or by oars. Nearly 20 to 25 men work on each craft.
(iii) Trolling vessel: Trolling line boats tow lines extending on either side to catch pelagic
species having high individual value and good quality, such as tuna and baracuda. The
fish hooked after snapping at the lure are brought on board as the line is hauled in.
Dr. K. Rama Rao, Asst. Professor of Zoology, Govt. Degree College, Tekkali, Srikakulam Dt. A. P Page 5
The vessel lengths vary between 25’ - 50’ and have normally a forward wheelhouse
arrangement allowing a clear working deck aft.
(iv) Dol netter: The dol netters are used for operating the dol nets, which are basically
fixed bag nets. The dol netter varies form 8-14 mm length, 1.5 m to 3.6 m in breadth and
0.8 m to 1.8 m in height. The carrying capacity of each of such boats varies from 2-14
tonnes. Each of these boats is fitted with 2-4 cylinder diesel engines.
(v) Gill netter: Vessels of almost any size can undertake gill netting. The vessels vary in
length between 25’ and 55’. The deck must be so laid out that the gear can be
conveniently stowed, with a clear passage from bow to stern so that the gear can be
passed after hauling. An arrangement with wheelhouse and engine room forward or
behind may be used depending on the operating method adopted.
(vi) Stern trawlers: Fishing over the stern can be a very efficient way of trawling. Stern
trawling is the most wide- spread method of fishing in India. The vessels range in size
from 32’ to 55’ in length and may be fitted with 60 to 120 horsepower engine and above.
Vessels above 45’ in length may also be constructed in steel.
(i) Hand line boat (ii) Pole and line fishing vessel (iii) Trolling vessel
(iv) Dol netter (v) Gill netter (vi) Stern trawlers
Courtesy: Images taken from Google search
Dr. K. Rama Rao, Asst. Professor of Zoology, Govt. Degree College, Tekkali, Srikakulam Dt. A. P Page 6
