Analysis of marketing of fish fingerlings and environmental awareness level of fisherman in Dakshin Dinajpur District of West Bengal

Abstract

The existing marketing status of fish fingerlings has been analysed with a special reference to environmental concerns and awareness of the fishermen. The constraints have been identified and suggestions have been made for the development of marketing of fishery on the basis of primary data collected from Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal in 2006. Small and marginal farmers dominate the fishery and about 10 per cent of fish farmers earn their major livelihood from fishing. Three to four middlemen have been noted in the existing four marketing channels. Insignificant price variation among the channels has been confirmed by low value (7.25 per cent) of co-efficient of variation (CV). The fisherman's share to consumer price has been found to be 62.80 per cent which is higher than any other agricultural crop. The average elasticity of demand has been found to be one (approx.). Infrastructural facilities are lacking. However, judging from the modest profits of middlemen and their reasonable marketing margins, fish market appears to be competitive and relatively efficient in the study area. The pollutants in aquatic environment are diverse and complex in nature. The main sources of pollution are pesticides and leaching of dissolved chemical fertilizers, sewage and waste disposal, retting of fibre-crops, processing wastes, etc. It has been found that degree of consciousness about the environmental-related consequences on fish production and marketing is highly limited. Market survey has shown that production of small local catch fishes has a declining trend. The study has found that over-fishing and lack of production culture are the main reasons for this decline. The study has suggested that a collective effort should be initiated for eco-friendly and sustainable fish conservation, production and marketing with the existing resources, socio-economic and environmental constraints, which, in turn, will upgrade the economic status and quality of lives of the fishers in the district.