THE IMPORTANCE OF PERCEPTION IN MARINE FISHING DEVELOPMENT: LESSONS FROM PURI DISTRICT, ORISSA

Abstract

This study examines the role of perception in the evolution of marine fishing in Puri district, Orissa,
India. The area has been developed mainly by migrant fishermen from the Telugu community of Andhra
Pradesh as local inhabitants of Orissa mainly rely on agriculture and do not inherit the perception of fishing.
The physical environment of the study area has created immense scope for marine resource development, and
three types of fishing have developed in the area. The study aims to understand the source and development
of marine fishing in Orissa and highlights its importance in the economy. It explores the relationship between
natural resources, material culture, and the perception of the fishing community in Puri district. The document
provides background information on the physical and demographic features of the district, including the seacoast bays, island, and river system. The study focuses on the degree and magnitude of the influence of
perception on the material culture of fishermen in Orissa. The findings suggest that perception plays the most
important role in adopting marine fishing as a prime occupation in the study area. The Telugu community with
their age-old experience of almost more than 1,000 years started marine fishing in Orissa, and still, non-Oriya
group of people dominates marine fishing in the state. Perception of techniques of marine fishing led to the
dominance of the Telugu community in marine fishing in the study area