Ecology and Fisheries ISSN 0974-6323

Vol.lO(l):5-IO 2017

AWARENESS TOWARDS T H E SEA S A F E T Y MEASURES AMONG FISHERS O F

VERSOVAFISHENG V I L L A G E , MUMBAL MAHARASHTRA

S V. Pattl', Shweta K u m a r l ' , P. H . Sapkalt', M . J . G i t t e \. M . Vadav', S. M . Wasavc'

'College o l Fisheries. Shirgaon, Ralnagiri. 415629. Maharashtra.
-Central Institute ofFisheries Education, Versova, Mumbai
'Taraporewala marine Biological Research Station, Mumbai
''Krishi Vigyan Kendra. Roha, Raigad, Maharashtra

ABSTRACT
The International Lobour Organization has estimated that. 24,000 fatalities and 24 million
nonfatal injuries occur worldwide each year among fishermen. Objective: To assess the sea
safety devices used by fishers during fishing in the sea. Materials and Methods: Descriptive
survey design was used and data regarding vessel details and awareness about sea safety
among fishennen was collected using semi-structured interview schedule. Results: In the study
it was found that, number of boats was declining year by year. Nearly 76.5% boats are in the
name o f male while 23.5% boats were in the name o f female. The Life jackets. Global Positioning
System (GPS). Wireless system. Ring buoy and Magnetic Compass were used by majority o f
fishermen during fishing. Life jackets, GPS and wireless system are present in all vessels but
no vessel is iiaving fire bucket and fire extinguisher. There is a need o f training and awareness
about the sea safety and sea safety equipment to prevent the life of the people o f nwst vulnerable
sector.

Keywords: fishermen, iimiivncss. sea safety measures

INTRODUCTION
Fishing at sea is the most dangerous occupation in the world. In the fishing induslrv 80%
o f accidenls were due to human behaviour or error. Most accidents occur as a result o f poor
judgement exercised during fishing operations, brought about by the pressure to increase profits.
The need for economic survival leads to risk taking and insufficient crew size (SC^Fl A, 2008).
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According to International Labour Organization ( I L O , 1999) 24,000 fatalities occur

worldwide per year in capture fisheries. The consequences o f loss o f life affects badly to the
other family members. The safely o f fishing vessels and fishers involves several interrelated
components, such as the design, construction and equipment o f vessels. The fishing vessels can
only be made safer through regulations that aHect their design, construction and equipment; and
the training and certification ofcrevvs.
There are salely regulations to protect fishemien, but the applicable standards currently
enforced vary based on vessel and crew size, fishing location and fishery, and federal versus slate
oversight, among other criteria. Safety regulations for the small-scale fishing fleet (<79ft) are
limited primarily to basic lifesaving, communication, and portable fire lighting equipment (Dyer,
M . G, 2000).
There are statutory regulations for all sea-going vessels including fishing vessel. The
objective o f these regulations is to promote safety o f life at sea and efficient maintenance o f
vessels. Important regulations are Life Saving Appliances (LSA), Fire appliances (FA). Manning
and Prevention o f Collisions al sea. Every country has different regulations prescribed by its
Government. However most o f Ihe regulations are international in nature, inter-governmental
Maritime Consultative Organizxiiion (I MCO) draws unilbrm safety regulations and forwards them
to member- Governments for implementation o f statutory rules. In India, the regulations are
covered by Merchant Shipping Act (44) o f 1958. Safely at sea is always directly and indirectly
an inlegratcd pari o f fisheries management, Every change within a fisheries management system
will affect satety for fishermen in some way. In the open access regime the race for catching fish
has promoted innovations in cratt and gear and virtually neglected efforts to impro\ safety o f
fishermen at sea. As a result no fishing vessels cany- even the minimum life saving equipments like
lifebuoys, life jackets and flares. Though the vessels are registered with Ihe State Fisheries
Department, few are insured. Wliile registering vessels, the Fisheries Department Officials are
supposed to check the sea worthiness and safely aspects o f the vessel, but this is not strictly
adhered. Fishermen typically do not receive any forma! job training and are not subject to industry
or union training and safety protocols (McDonald and Kucera 2007). To reduce the rate o f
injury and death in the fishing indu-slry, it is essential to understand how fishermen perceive the sea
s;ifel\ iind mitigate the occupational hazards o f fishing, whether or not these mitigation strategies
are go\cmment-mandated. So in awake o f this a stud\s fell to be necessary- to understand
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Ecology and Fisheries / 7

av\s among fishermen regarding sea safety measures in fishing. The present study was
conducted with an objective to assess the sea safety measures used b>' fishers during fishing in the
sea.
M A T E R I A L S AND M E T H O D S
The study was conducted in the state o f Maharashtra, it is one o f the major maritime states in
India with coastal line of720 K m The six maritime districts are Thane, Palghar. Mumbai Suburban,
Mumbai City. Raigad. Ratnagin and Sindhudurg. The major landing centers of Mumbai are New
Ferry Warf, Sassoon dock and Versova and they account for nearly 60% o f state'sfishlanding.
Versova was selected purposefiilly for the present study. Data were collected fi-oin 40 respondents
of Versova fishing village with the help of a pre tested interview schedule. Secondar>' data were
collectedfi"omdiefishermensociety entitled "Vesava Macliliimar Vividh Kar>'akari Sahkari Society
Limited (VMVKSSI.)". Department o f Fisheries. Government of Maharashtra.

R E S U L T S AND D I S C U S S I O N
Ves.sel Details:
As reported by the society Vesava Machhimar Vividh Karyakari Sahkari Society Limited
( V M V K S S L ) till 2015,281 boats were registered. It was found that the number of boats was
declining year by year. In the year 2007-2008, no. ofboals was which dropped to 281 in 2014-
15 (table 1). The reason behind this was damaged txiats were neither repaired nor used for
further fishing and shifting to other activities.
Table I : Yearwise number of boats (}perating in Versova

No. Year Total Boat (No.)

1 2007.2008 308
2 2008-2009 272
3 2009-2010 266
4 2010-2011 275
5 2011-2012 271
6 2012-2013 262
7 2013-2014 267
8 2014-2015 281
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Table 2: Information about the landing center, type of boat

Parameters Percentage

Landing center Versova 80.8

Nev\ ferry Warf 14..6

Sassoon docl< 4.6

Type of boat Trawlers 86.1

Information about the landing center, types of boats were presented in table 2. It is clear
that, out o f 281 registered boats, 227 boats were operating in Versova, 41 in New Ferry Warf
while remaining 13 in Sassoon dock. The maximum boats (80.8%) were operating in Versova
and very less (4.6%) in Sassoon dock. There were 242 trawlers which is maximum with 86.1 %,
34 gillnets( 12.1%) and 5 dol net which is the minimum with 1.8%.
The boats were also registered in the name o f female. A total of 66 (23.5%) boats were
registered in the name offemale while 215 (76.5%) were registered in the name of male.
Sea safety measures :
Study revealed that, Life jackets. Global Positioning System (GPS), Wu-eless system,
Ring buoy and Magnetic Compass were used by majority o f fishers on fishing vessels during
fishing. But all the fishers were not using all these equipment on their fishir^ vessels while goingfbr
fishing. Life jacket, GPS and Wireless system were used by all fishers. Out o f 40 fishers only
7.5% are using Magnetic compass while Ring buoy is used by only 25% ilshers. Use o f torch
light and First aid box are reported by only one respondent.
All fishermen's reported that, they have boat and crew members insurance. Insurance
done by New India Assurance Company. Wireless, mobile and Distress Awareness Transmitters
(DAT) were used for distress management by fishers during fishing operation.
A similar study was conducted in the state o f Kerala particularly in Ihe Cochin fishing
harbor (Personal communication). The study revealed that, sea safety devices like compass.
GPS and life buoy were observed in aU the fishing vessels. About 87% o f the vessels were having
wireless system Fire bucket and fire extinguisher were found in around 50% o f the vessels which
were not observed on fishing vessels ofVersova. Life jacket was observed in 43% o f the vessels.
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CONCLUSION
Awareness regarding sea safety measures in fishing operation is inadequate. Fishermen's
need to be eiKouraged to have/purcliase personal sea safety devices and follow the guidelines o f
sea safety measures. The present study recommends the need of awareness programmes about
the sea safety and sea safety equipment to prevent the life o f the people o f most vulnerable
sector.
REFERENCES
Dyer, M. G 2000. Hazard and risk in the New England fishing fleet. Marine Technology and
Sname News 37: 30-49.
FAO. 2008. The State o f World Fisheries and Aquacuhure (SOFIA). Food and Agricultural
Organization o f United Nations, Rome, Italy.
Handbook ofFisheries Statistics 2014. DepailmenlofAnimalllusbandry, Dairying and Fisheries,
Govt, o f India.
http://www.imo.oi^
11.0,1999,2003. Safety and Health in the Fishing Industr}', Report lor discussion at the Tripartite
Meetir^ on Safety and Health in the Fishing Industry.
McDonald, M . A. and Kucera, K. L. 2007. "Understanding non industrialized workers'
approaches to safet>" Mow do commei-cialfishemien"stay sale'".*"' Journal o f Sal'ely Research
38:289-297.

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