Types of Fish Traps in India

Study Notes

Choli/Chanchi: A raft trap used in the Ganga river near Allahabad to catch mullets that jump out of water when confronted with obstacles.
Changadam: A boat trap popular in the backwaters of Travancore, Kochi for catching grey mullets.

Bag nets: Nets that are kept open vertically by a frame on the opening side and extended horizontally by the current.
Scoop nets: Variously shaped small bag nets operated by hand to catch fish by scooping action.
Landing nets: Nets with round frames, e.g., Kochbi, used with a bamboo handle in the Neon falls of Kangri valley, Punjab.
Skimming nets: Triangular nets with 2 cross-shaped mobile or fixed rods to keep the net open, e.g., Jali, used in the Ganga river, Allahabad (U.P.).

Push nets: Triangular or semi-circular frame pushed by hand while wading in water or operated from boats by handle, e.g., Pelni, used in the Narmada river, MP.
Other examples: Schiki Jal, used in the Hooghly estuary, WB; Kami Jal, used in rivers of Assam; Vatta Vala, used in sea and backwaters of Kerala and Karnataka; Kappu Vala, used in rivers of Tamil Nadu.

Dragged scoop nets: Bagnets with rectangular frames dragged behind a wading fisher through water, e.g., Vadi Vala, used in backwaters of Kerala.
Other examples: Vala Vala, Zelikhanni Vala, Pattukanni Vala.

Entangling gear: Fish entangle themselves in the netting by coming into the double or triple walled nets voluntarily or by being driven.
Examples: Trammel net, Rangoon net, used in reservoirs of AP, TN, and Karnataka; Udu Valai, used in the Krishnaraj Sagar Reservoir.

Harvesting machine: A machine that takes the prey out of the water and transports it onboard the vessel by various methods.
Examples: Collector for algae, Fish pump, operated when small-sized fish shoal is located, e.g., anchovies, sardines, etc.

Ring net: A hybrid between Lampara net and purse seine net operated in the Kerala coast.

Drive-in net: Fish are caught by driving them into a stationary fishing gear of any type.
Examples: Mathi Kolli Vala, used in marine waters of Kerala; Vela Vala, used in backwaters of Kerala; Gopal Jal, used in the Ganges of Allahabad (UP) to catch Mystus spp.

Lift or dip net: Fish are caught by bringing the prey over a flat or more or less bag-like netting.
Examples: Hand dip/lift net, e.g., Kacha, used in marine waters of TN; Kurli, used in hill streams of Punjab; Arippu Vala, used in backwaters of Kerala; Jamda Jal, used in rivers of Gujarat to catch ascending Hilsa; Pan Jal, used in rivers of Assam.
Mechanized lift net: Bigger lift nets operated mechanically, e.g., Khoila Jal, used in rivers of WB; Chinese dip net, used in backwaters of Kerala.
Blanket net: Large nets worked from piles from a number of boats, e.g., Naduthara Valai, used in marine waters of TN; Mada Valai, used along the Coromandal coast to catch flying fish, pomfrets, and sardines.