06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation
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Lakshadweep Islands<br />
take during the fair season is replaced during the<br />
monsoon season. They believe that other cowries<br />
from the deep sea come and take the place of the<br />
ones that are collected (Hoon, 96).<br />
The women stated that cowry collection no longer<br />
remains only women's work. Men and young boys<br />
also go out to collect cowries both for as a hobby<br />
and also for seIling them to the tourists. They felt<br />
that the women are at a disadvantage now for<br />
collecting cowries. They have competition from<br />
young men and boys. These boys and men are not<br />
restricted by clothing and tides and can go as is<br />
convenient for them. They can swim and snorkel<br />
and do not need to wait for low tide to collect<br />
cowries. They can skin dive and collect big<br />
cowries for selling as souvenirs. The women feel<br />
that these cowry enthusiasts go even before the<br />
low tide and hence can get the choicest pick.<br />
Kal moodai' This is a primitive type of fishing<br />
activity mainly done by children during low tide<br />
times in all seasons within the shallow eastern<br />
lagoon. It is a kind of intense reef gleaning activity<br />
where the small coral boulders are covered with a<br />
net and shaken. A few people of both genders<br />
carryout this operation today. The Gear used is<br />
one small cast net, leaf bag and plastic slippers.<br />
Octopus bunting-Appal Kootblll' Octopus usually<br />
lie hidden in crevices of coral reef. When an<br />
octopus is spotted, it is pierced with a pointed iron<br />
rod. As the octopus writhes out of its hiding place<br />
the iron rod is taken out of the water with the<br />
octopus.<br />
Women may catch octopus if they spot them in<br />
shallow waters while they are gleaning the reef.<br />
Generally young boys go as a team of two to hunt<br />
for octopus. They snorkel out to the favorite<br />
hunting grounds and then skin dive looking for<br />
octopus. One stays on the surface while the other<br />
skin dives and looks for octopus. When they find<br />
one they pierce it and bring it to the surface. The<br />
octopus is greatly relished by the local people.<br />
There is a ready market for dried and fresh<br />
octopus within the islands.<br />
4. Collection of building construction materials:<br />
Coral boulders, shingle and sand are collected for<br />
building construction purposes. Shingles are the<br />
broken peaces of acropora coral that get washed<br />
ashore. Boulders big and small massive coral.<br />
Boulder coral serves as a substratum for the coral<br />
planuelae to settle and new colonies to form within<br />
the lagoon. Removal of coral boulders from the<br />
lagoon only results is a sandy bottom and destroys<br />
the habitat for new coral growth to take place.<br />
Boulder coral are collected from the entire reef<br />
area and even the patch reefs found within the<br />
lagoon.<br />
Boulders can be distinguished as two types:'<br />
1. Kummayatba kallthey can be 1-4 feet in length<br />
and breadth. They are used for construction and<br />
making lime. This type of boulders are collected by<br />
men since it is hard work and one goes into the<br />
lagoon. They use boats and crowbars to heave the<br />
boulders into the boat. This activity is carried out<br />
during low tide period. 2-3 craft loads are<br />
collected with one days work. One boatload is<br />
equal to 400-500 Kg.<br />
2. Uralam Kill' This type of boulder is used for<br />
laying the foundation during the building<br />
construction and is not used for making Iiine.<br />
Collection is carried on by women, children and<br />
men.<br />
Boulder collection appears to be indiscriminate<br />
and no part of the reef is considered sacred.<br />
Boulders are used for laying foundations they are<br />
most in demand at this time. Boulders are<br />
normally collected for own use and not sold. There<br />
is no class distinction for collecting coral boulders<br />
and people from all income groups can collect<br />
corals for their own use.<br />
3. Sand: Two types of sand are used in building<br />
construction. Typically 5000 to 10000 bags of sand<br />
are required to build one house.<br />
'l8deyam kummayatb Mann. is used for making<br />
blocks and thick plastering work.<br />
Nanakumayatba Mann. is used for fine plastering<br />
work.<br />
4. Sbingle: Three types of Shingles are collected<br />
from all the seashore area.<br />
fala kall: this is the biggest size around one foot<br />
in length. It is used to make the foundation.<br />
Jally. These shingles are 1'h « in length and width.<br />
They are used in masking the roof concrete, fioor<br />
concrete and making concrete wall bricks.<br />
Pudi Jally. This is of very small size and is used<br />
for giving a top finish to the fioor.<br />
Women and children in the islands routinely<br />
6. Inrormation on shingles, boulder and sand collected first hand during a socio-economic assessment exercise carried out at Agatti<br />
Island April 2001.<br />
116
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