Technical Specifications and Operation of <>Van Net of Ratnagiri, Maharashtrai

The present study encompasses the traditional fishing method of Van net practiced in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. Temporary barrier locally known as Van net was a very simple method employed to trap the fish and operated at a depth of 3 to 4 m. The gear comprised of a long wall of netting supported by head rope, foot rope and wooden sticks or bamboo poles at regular intervals and operated in the area of tidal influence. PE multifilament twine having specification ranging from 210D×6×3 to 210D×12×3 and mesh size varying from 20 to 35 mm was commonly used for construction of main webbing. Total hung length and hung depth ranged from 200 to 355 m and 2 to 3.8 m, respectively. Number of meshes in length and depth ranged from 6428 to 13000 and 70 to 190, respectively. PP twisted rope of 1.5 to 2.5 mm diameter was used as head rope on upper edge and foot rope on lower edge. A total 25 to 45 wooden poles of 3.5 to 4.5 m height and 40 to 60 mm diameter were used to stretch the long wall of webbing horizontally and vertically as floats and sinkers were not used.