Rameswaram Palk Strait Fishing Ramanathapuram Tamil Nadu

The Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar fishing communities of Rameswaram island and the Ramanathapuram coast, principally from the Pattinavar and Mudaliar fishing communities, maintain traditional knowledge of the diverse marine ecosystem of the biosphere reserve including the coral reefs, seagrass beds, and migratory fish routes of the shallow Palk Strait, which supports India largest bottom-fishing community. Traditional fishing methods include Valai net fishing for reef fish, Pal fishing using float lines for sea-cucumber and chank shell, and the use of the Catamaran plank raft for overnight multi-gear fishing. The chank shell harvest on the Palk Strait bed is one of India oldest organised fisheries, with Rameswaram chank shells traditionally supplied to the conch-cutting industry of Dhaka and Mumbai for ritual instruments and bangle production. The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park encompasses the 21-island chain from Mandapam to Tuticorin, and community-based management agreements with traditional fishing cooperatives govern artisanal fishing within the park boundary while excluding mechanised trawlers.