SUNDARAMOORTHY, BMUTHUKUMAR, SNEETHISELVAN, NSUKUMAR, D2018-06-152018-06-152015http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810053189The present study was conducted to document various traditional fishing methods and gears employed to capture inland fish species in freshwater systems of Tamil Nadu. Sixteen different fishing methods and fishing gears have been reported from Thirunelveli, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Erode, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Vellore, Cuddalore, Kanchipuram and Tiruvannamalai districts of Tamil Nadu. The reported gears were categorized under different groups of fishing gears such as traps, baskets, aggregating devices, dragged gear and barriers. Under the traps, Tholugu Pari, Iruvaai Pari, Ayirai Koodu, Paanai Pari, Kottu Pari, Vilaangu Koodu, Yeantha Pari, Thappai Pari and Moongil Pari were recorded. The basket type fishing gears such as Ootha and Katcha were reported in many districts. Fish aggregating devices such as Aaralkaththai and Kattu Fishing were found in some districts. Shar Fishing is a type of fish barrier reported from Thanjavur and Thiruvarur districts. Ayirai Valai and Kachaal Fishing were reported in different districts of Tamil Nadu. The traditional gears reported under this study were documented for their distribution, construction, operation, catch composition, seasons of operation and cost. Most of the traditional gears reported in Tamil Nadu were found to be constructed with locally available natural plant materials such as coconut leaflet sticks, split bamboo, Poolan sticks etc. These traditional gears of inland waters of Tamil Nadu are operated in the shallow waters of rivers, canals, channels, lakes, ponds and tanks and operation was found to be seasonal in nature. The CPUE, scope for upgradation and optimization of inland fishing gears were studied.ennullThesis