Vol. 12, Issue 1 (2023)

Traditional fishing traps of Mahanadi basin was studied in 2017-18 during the survey of fishing craft and gear operated in Chhattisgarh. With the advancement in the technology and modernization in the living style, the unique traditional fishing methods followed by the tribals of Chhattisgarh are in the stage of disappearance. This paper is an attempt to record the special indigenous fishing traps traditionally used by the fishers in Mahanadi basin. During the survey five (05) different types of fishing traps i.e. Fandajali, Chingari jali, Dheer, Benda and an Aerial trap were recorded. Collection of data was done using pre-tested questionnaire and spot observation with photographs. Most of the gears were old, made by locally available materials. Nowadays these traditional traps are very rarely used due to discontinuous flow of rivers and modernization of fishing gears.