The knowledge, awareness, and practices (KAP) about COVID-19 among the marine fishers who are engaged in the high-risk occupations and depend on the vulnerable sources of income in the Maharashtra state of India, were investigated to understand the behavioral changes and vulnerability among the respondents because of COVID-19. Data were collected through an online survey from 1st July to 30th July 2020 during the first peak of COVID-19 in the study area by using the questionnaire. Authors based on the latest recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the questionnaire and covered the KAP aspects under study. The questionnaire was administered through Google form link and the link was disseminated through social media such as Facebook and What’s App. The completed responses (n = 533) received from the eligible sample, excluding those outsides of the fisher community and duplicate entries were considered for analysis. Appropriate statistical tools were used to analyze the data. Among the respondents, 447 men (83.86%) and 86 women (16.14%), with a mean age of 45.4 years (M = 45.4, SD = 1.18). The results revealed that 70.92% of respondents perceived a low risk of infection because of COVID-19 with M = 1.77 and SD = 0.583, but authors found the perceived severity score high (M = 3.95, SD = 1.21) among the 60.97% of respondents. Around 95% of respondents were aware of the COVID-19, while almost all respondents knew the medium of infection and symptoms of COVID-19. The behavior of respondents towards COVID-19 infection was positive and was following sufficient precautionary measures suggested by WHO to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that the demographic features of respondents like age, education were significantly contributing to the KAP of the fisher community. The results confirmed the importance of KAP which is reflected in the behavioral responses of the fishers while tackling the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The results regarding the risk perception, severity, KAP about COVID-19 provide a collective understanding of the emerging infectious disease among the marine fishers of Maharashtra state of India.
Despite the advancement in prawn culture technology in several parts of the world, India will be still depending on wild seed for prawn farming for some more time. In this context, selective stocking is very important. Yet, practically no information is available on the correct identification of juvenile or seed stage (size: 6 to 60 mm) although a lot of work is done on larval and postlarval stages. Various morphological changes, including colouration, take place during juvenile phase rendering the segregation of seed of different species even more difficult. The present work, based on seed collection from the wild and supplemented by laboratory observations over a period of two years, gives a detailed field key for the following 11 species belonging to 4 genera occurring along the Konkan coast (west coast of India): (1) Penaeus (Penaeus) monodon, (2) P. (P.) semisulcatus, (3) Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) merguiensis, (4) P. (F.) indicus, (5) Penaeus (Marsupenaeus) japonicus, (6) Metapenaeus dobsoni, (7) M. monoceros, (8) M. affinis, (9) M. moyebi, (10) Parapenaeopsis cornuta, (11) Metapenaeopsis sp. The key is based on colour in live condition, habitat and salinity preference, swimming and burying behaviour, morphological, meristic and morphometric studies.
The present investigation was taken to know the variations with respect to design, net specification, mesh size of Disco dol trawl net operated along the Ratnagiri coast. A total of 42 trawl net was sampled physically by using measurement tape and scale. The data were collected by structured schedule consisting of two major sections. The first section was for vessel details and second for the specifications of trawl nets. The study revealed that, two seam locally known ‘Disco dol’, operated from Ratnagiri was observed with eight belly sections of overall length ranges from 41 to 52m. Wings of the net were triangular in shape with a mesh size variation between 120-440 mm. The dimensions such as breadth, number of meshes along breadth and mesh size were decreasing from first to last belly section, but average number of meshes per metre were increasing from first to last belly. Wide reduction of 400-40 mm was observed in mesh sizes of belly section for Disco dol from first to last belly. Cod end mesh size of trawl operated from Jaigad, Kasarveli, Mirkarwada and Purnagad landing centres was recorded as 20 mm. In Ratnagiri, two seam trawl net was used mainly to catch fishes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.