Impact of Changes in Management Regime on Fisheries: A Temporal Case Study of Dhir Beel in Assam

The floodplain wetlands (beels) constitute important fisheries resourcesof Assam. These resources are managed through a complex socialframework. The state of this management regime determines the level andsustainable utilization with implications on fisheries and livelihoods. Tofind the impact of such management regime, a case study has beenundertaken in the Dhir beel of Assam. The impact of the change in themanagement regime on the sustainability of fisheries and livelihoods offishers has been evaluated. This change in the management regime hasbeen due to immigration of a large number of people from the nearby areassince 1985. The study has compared the scenario that existed ‘before1985’ (data of 1982-84) and “after 1985’ (data of 2004). There has been asignificant increase in the fishing pressure with new fishing practices (1.5to 5 times) as well as intensity of effort (3 to 7 times). The weakening of theregulating institutions has led to irrational practices which in turn, haveresulted in a decline (22.32%) in the production and productivity of thebeel. The decline has been more (31.79%) in terms of value than productionof fish, indicating a definite decline in the quality of the fish available inthese resources. In the changed scenario, the economics of themanagement has gone against the resource managers as they are to spendmore money on monitoring and enforcing the rules. The livelihood of thefishers has also declined with the high degree of sharing of fish among thefishers.