130-136<span style="font-size:
9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt" lang="EN-US">In the present study, endeavor was been made
to document the different types of traditional fish aggregating devices (FADs)
being practiced by the fishermen from the study area and to explore the
fishers’ rationale behind their use. Looking into the nature of the study, the
information was collected by personal interviews, field observations and
conducting focus group discussions with 10-12 practicing fishermen of the meitei <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">community, Manipur state. The study explored a unique traditional
fish aggregating wisdom of central valley region of Manipur namely, Phoom namba , Phoomdao thumba
(for Air breathing fishes), bunches of weeds (for grass carp) in loktak
lake, macrophytes in low lying areas and branches of the tree and twigs (Kao) in the river systems. Further, the
study has also revealed that the operation of the fish aggregating techniques
ranges from individual to group of fishermen which share the benefits out of
the common property resources.
</span