CHAPTER 4

BOAT OWNERS: GENERAL PROFILE ANDOCCUPATION DETAILS

Having dealt in detail about the proliferation of the number of trawlers in the nine

maritime districts of Kerala, from 1980 to 2009 in the previous chapter, it is necessary to

proceed to the analysis of the primary data relating to various aspects such as demographic

profile of the boat owners, economic profile, initiation into the business of trawl boat, assessment

of the required skills and sources of support. As stated in the methodology in chapter one,

section (1.7) the two sample centres selected for the study are Neendakara – Shakthikulangara

belt (hereafter N.S belt) of Kollam district and Munambam of Ernakulam district. Before

getting into the analysis of primary data collected, a brief profile of the two centres can be

sketched out.

72

4. 1 Neendakara – Shakthikulangara Belt

73

Neendakara –Shakthikulangara is situated 10 kms north of the city of Kollam bounded

by the Arabian Sea in the west and Ashtamudi Lake in the north (www.wikipedia the

encyclopedia, 2010). Neendakara harbour is 120 km south of the city of Kochi, the only

major port of the state. Neendakara harbour is exactly located in the latitude 80 560 North

and longitude 760 320 east (Harbour Engineering Neendakara division, 2004). The NH 47

passes by the port area of the N.S belt through a bridge which connects Neendakara to

Shakthikulangara across the Ashtamudi Lake (Hand book, Neendakara fisheries office, 2010).

The fishing activities at Neendakara was originated systematically in 1952, when the

twin fishing villages of Neendakara and Sakthikulangara on either sides of Ashtamudi wet

land were selected by the Indo-Norwegian foundation for development (Klausen, 1969). In

1968 the engineering department of the government of Kerala, identified Neendakara as a

potential site for fishing cum cargo harbour. Thereafter in 1970 boat jetties were constructed

and port operations commenced in Neendakara (Government of Kerala, 1980). The

Government of Kerala prepared a detailed project report with the assistance of the pre-

investment survey of fishing harbours Bangalore in 1975, for establishing a fishery harbour

complex. Two break waters of length 610 meters and 380 meters were constructed to create

a tranquil basin and navigable channel with required depth (Government of Kerala, 1975).

The total wharf length at Neendakara side is 415 meter and at Shakthikulangara side is 407

meters. There are two auction halls in Neendakara harbour complex (218m x 15.10 m and

196 m x 15.10m) with a total floor area of 6251.40m2 for cleaning, sorting and auctioning the

catches landed. The loading area, parking area and international roads are well developed

and bituminous surfacing is made. The total area of the harbour is 22997m2. A sloping hard

exists in this harbour which is used for hauling up the vessels for repairs. Essential water

supply system, electrification arrangements and drainage schemes are installed in the harbour.

In addition to these, ancilliary facilities like administrative block, rest shed, canteen, provision

stores, post office, fuel outlet, telephone booth and petty shops also exist in this harbour

(Government of Kerala Facts and Figures, 1980).

The location and the other natural advantages unique to Neendakara –

Shakthikulangara have rendered it essentially a fishery economy. Success

of mechanization and the consequent increase in the scale of operations, the

74

infrastructure, linkages with international centres of trade and involvement of the central and

state governments have transformed these two fishing villages into a prominent trawl fishing

location in Kerala. Today, Neendakara fishing harbour can accommodate nearly 3300 boats

from various parts of Kerala. The N.S belt is now endowed with ice and freezing plants,

processing units, exporting centres, diesel and petrol bunks, boat building yards, repairing

units and industrial fisheries segments etc. The region has also remained pioneer in attracting

migrant labourers and ancillary business units from other states of India (Panfish Book, 2001).

75

76

the state. Munambam is located in the latitude 100 110 North and in the longitude 760 100

East. Today Munambam is a part of the Pallipuram village of Ernakulam district (Government

of Kerala Harbour Engineering Division, Munambam, 2009).

Munambam fishing harbour is surrounded by the Arabian sea at the west, river Periyar

at the east and mouth of the sea at the north end. Munambam harbour is about 40 km north of

Kochin harbour, 85 km south of Ponnani Port and 5 km north of the famous Cherai beach.

Munambam harbour is actually an estuary where a portion of the river Periyar after joining the

Chalakkudy and Pullute rivers meets the Arabian Sea. In the Northern bank of river Periyar is

the Kodungallore town. Munambam is in the border of two districts namely Ernakulam and

Thrissur. Thus Munambam is a fame in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts for the presence of

the major fishing harbour in the region.

The fishing harbour construction in Munambam commenced when the government of

Kerala in 1967 appointed M/s Indopol in the year 1967 to study the feasibility of establishing

a fishing harbour at Munambam. In 1968 M/s indopol recommended the construction of a

fishery harbour at Munambam. The government of Kerala accorded sanction to build a harbour

in Munambam. The construction of the harbour officially began in 1989, as per the

administrative sanction of the government of Kerala on 22nd March 1989 and government of

India handed over 710 lakhs to the state government of Kerala for the construction. The

actual cost of construction was 3579.23 crores which was granted by the Government of

India in two allotments. The executive engineer harbour engineering division Munambam was

responsible for the implementation of this project. The project was opened for activities on 7th

August 2002. (Report of the Harbour Engineering division Munambam, 2002). To protect

the harbour two ramparts are constructed into the sea to about half kilometer using granite

stones and concrete blocks. Munambam fishing harbour is a harbour with international amenities

and is acclaimed as the clean and hygienic harbour.

The average annual landings of the Munambam harbour are 25000 tonnes

of fish of which motorized and mechanized boats contribute the maximum. Cat

fish, sardines, Anchovies, Perches, Elasmobranches and sciaenid are the important

fish varieties available with prawn taking sizeable per cent during the peak monsoon

77

season (Government of Kerala, 2009). The active fishermen of Munambam are 1075 (CMFRI

census 2005). In short Munambam is a thriving fishing village with a fishing harbour of

international standard.

In the light of the discussions made about the two fishing centres, the details of the primary

data can be examined. To begin with demographic profile of the owners of trawler boats can

be considered.

4.3 Demographic Profile of the Boat Owners

The trawl boat owners of Kerala belong to three major religions of the state, such as

Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Of the total respondents, Christians, Hindus and Muslims

constitute 78.39 per cent, 11.06 per cent and 10.55 per cent respectively. The figure 4.1 puts

forth the composition of the three religions in the sample centres.

Figure 4.1

Religion of the Boat Owners (in %)

78

79

Table 5.1 makes it clear that while Christians form majority in both belts, Hindus and

Muslims are respectively the minority in Munambam and the N.S belt. Out of the total

respondents in Munambam, 15.58 per cent, 19.48 per cent and 38.5 per cent are respectively

constituted by Hindus Muslims and Christians. In the N.S.belt these proportions are 8.19 per

cent, 4.92 per cent and 86.88 per cent respectively. Though the representation of the Christians

is 78.4 per cent in total, it is only 25.12 per cent in Munambam. The fall in the proportion is

compensated by the Muslims in Munambam. It must be noted that the community of Muslims

engaged in trawl fishing are the ‘Sunnih’.

Another feature that has to be depicted is that Christians are constituted by Syrian

Catholics (4 per cent) and Latin Catholics (68.3 per cent). The dominance of the Latin Catholics

in trawl fishing is evident from other studies and secondary data. The main Hindu counter

parts in both locations are the Dheevara and their representation is more or less the same in

two locations (6.5 percent in Munambam and 6.6 per cent in the N.S belt). There are also

other sub castes belonging to Christianity and Hinduism engaged in trawl fishing like Nadars

(both Hindu and Christian), Ezhavas, Chettiars etc who are termed as ‘others’ and they

constitute 21.1 per cent of the total respondents.

4.4 Age composition

The trawl boat owners are conveniently divided into below 35 years, 35 to 45

years, 45 to 55 years and above 55 years. Highest proportion of owners clusters around

the age group between 45 to 55 years (54.77%). Other representations are 10.05 per

cent, 32.16 per cent and 3.02 per cent respectively for the below 35 years, 35 to 45 years

and above 55 years category. Figure 4.2 depicts the same.

80

Figure 4.2

Age Composition of the Boat owners

The analysis of the age composition of the trawl boat owners in Munambam made it

clear that 2.01 per cent are below 35 years. The highest per cent cluster around the age group

of 35 to 45 years and they constitute 18.59 per cent. 17.58 per cent, and 0.05 per cent respectively

constitute the age composition of 45 to 55 years and above 55 years age group. Taking the

owners in Munambam, alone these representations are 5.2 per cent, 48.1 per cent 45.5 per cent

and 1.3 per cent respectively. Taking the owners from the N.S belt, of the total 8.04 per cent

belong to the age group of below 35 years. The highest per cent of the owners from the N.S belt

cluster around the age group 45 to 55 years and this constitute 37.18 per cent. 13.56

81

82

83

the illiteracy level of the owners of trawl boats in Kerala is higher than that of the general

population in Kerala.

Out of the total sample of trawl boat owners, the highest proportion is found with

matriculation (SSLC) completed (31.7%). This is followed by those with below 10th standard

education (23.1%). While those who have completed 12th standard education constitute 10.6

per cent, graduates come to the extent of seven per cent, the post graduates constitute 5.5 per

cent. There are diploma holders with 4.5 per cent and professional degree holders with 12.2

per cent.

Analysing the educational attainment of the owners of trawl boats in the two study

locations separately is put forth in figure 4.3, it is obvious that there are significant differences

in the educational levels of the owners of trawl boats in the two locations under study.

Figure 4.3

Education of the Boat Owners

Source: Survey Data

It is made clear from the figure that taking the owners of trawl boats from

Munambam alone, the illiteracy level is 9.1 per cent which is higher than the illiteracy

9.1

15.6

19.5

11.7

7.8

18.2

7.810.4

3.3

27.9

39.3

9.8

2.50

4.1

13.1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Illite

rate

Below

SSLC

SSLC PDC

Diploma

Degre

e PG

Profes

siona

l

Education

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Munambam

NeendakaraShakthikulangara

level of the owners of the N.S belt. It is observed during the primary survey that the Muslim

boat owners are more illiterate (10.2 per cent) than the others in Munambam. Almost the

same trend has been noticed with slight differences in the N.S.belt. The highest proportion

noticed is among those who have completed matriculation (SSLC) with 19.5 per cent. This is

followed by degree holder with 18.2 per cent. Those who have an educational level of below

SSLC constitute 15.6 per cent only.

Analyzing the education of the owners of trawl boats of the N.S belt alone, rate of

illiteracy (3.3 per cent) is less than the level of illiteracy in the location Munambam and the

percentage of owners who have completed S.S.L.C (39.3 per cent) is more than that in

Munambam. 9.8 per cent, 2.5 per cent, 4.1 per cent and 13.1 per cent respectively have

done pre degree, diploma, post graduation and professional qualifications in the N.S belt. In

both locations it is interesting to note that those who have done professional qualifications like

engineering and MBA are encouraged to step into trawl fishing business. It is to be mentioned

here that there are ample facilities for educational attainment in both locations.

4.6 Household Members

The members of the households range from a minimum of three members to a maximum

of eight. More households (52.3 per cent) cluster around 5 members. Households having

three members and eight members are one per cent and two per cent respectively. Four, six

and seven members respectively constitute 18.6 per cent, seven per cent and 19.1 per cent.

This information is presented in table 4.3.

84

85

86

private firms, as engineers, NRIs etc. These constitute 14.6 percent and there are 3.5

per cent of the owners who have fish export as the main occupation. This is set forth in figure

4.4.

Figure 4.4

Primary Occupation (%)

Taking the locations separately, in Munambam 81.8 per cent of the owners of trawlers have

trawl fishing as the main occupation. 6.5 per cent have other occupations as their main

occupation and 11.7 per cent have fish export as their main occupation. Considering the N.S

belt alone, 82 per cent have trawl fishing as their main occupation, 1.6 per cent have other

occupations as their main occupation and 16.4 per cent have fish export as their main

occupation. In the N.S.belt more owners are engaged in fish export because there are better

facilities for fish exports as mentioned in section 4.1. International linkages to trade are better

developed in the N.S.belt. Above 80 per cent of the owners in both locations have trawl

fishing as their main

87

occupation. It is observed that in both locations people from other walks of life are interested

to invest in this field.

4.7.2 Subsidiary Occupation

Out of the total respondents, 15.1 per cent, six per cent, one per cent and 11.1 per

cent have trawl fishing, fish export, petrol and diesel bunk operations and other occupations

as their subsidiary occupations respectively. There are also owners who have no subsidiary

occupation at all. They form 66.83 per cent of the respondents. This is presented in figure 4.5.

Figure 4. 5

Subsidiary Occupation (%)

Discussing about the two locations separately, it is noted that in both locations

majority of the trawler owners have no subsidiary occupations at all. This constitutes

61.5 per cent in the N.S.belt and 75.3 per cent in Munambam. In the N.S.belt, the

owners of trawlers take advantage of the facilities for trade linkages with the rest of

the world and comparatively more owners have fish export as their subsidiary occupation

than Munambam.

Comparing the two locations in Munambam there are more owners who have no

subsidiary occupations relatively to the N.S.belt. It was also observed that in both locations,

there are owners engaged in money lending occasionally as their subsidiary occupation. They

levy high rate of interest just like other money lenders in their locality.

The primary survey conducted in the present study among the owners of trawl

boats informs that the economic conditions of the boat owners are not chronically indebted

and miserably poor. The average annual income of the household is 13.29 lakh. The range

of income varies between 1.5 lakh to 55 lakh. The monthly saving is averaged to

13729 and the range of savings varies between zero to 50,000. As on the survey date the

mean of the household liabilities is calculated to be 7.7 lakh. This is presented in table 4.4

88

89

be taken in spending money the male usually take over the wife or mother in both locations.

To examine the difference between the mean values of total annual income, monthly

savings and household liabilities among the two locations, the independent sample test (t-test)

is employed. The independent samples t test procedure compares means for two groups of

cases and tests the statistical significance of the difference between them. The test value is

6.22 for annual income and the significance value is 0.000. In household liabilities the t-test

value is 2.43 and the significance is 0.000. Since the values of significance is less than 0.05 it

can be safely concluded that the differences in the average values of total annual income

monthly savings and household liabilities as on the survey date among the two locations are

not due to chance alone. The reasons for the differences can be attributed to the fact as

already seen in the demographic profile that in the N.S belt majority of the owners belong to

the Latin Catholic community and in Munambam owners from high income communities like

Syrian Catholics and others have invested. The next reason that can be specified is the presence

of rich investors other than fishermen in Munambam. These have to be explored further.

4.8 Initiation into Trawl fishing Business

Investment in trawler boats came up from fishermen as well as non fishermen

households. Plateau (1985) in their study (Neendakara – Shakthikulangara) mentioned that

one third of the total investments on trawlers in Kerala, came up from the fishermen households.

Plateau further observed that acquisition of trawlers by a household in the context of the

N.S belt is mostly as a financial investment made with a view to yield high profit within a

short period of time than as a means of productive employment for its active members.

Therefore buying a trawl boat is considered as part of an economic strategy aimed at the

acquisition of higher standard of living among the people of Shakthikulangara under the

strong influence of all pervading demonstration effect. The fishermen investors of Munambam

and the N.S belt are also seen to possess higher propensity to invest out of borrowed funds

(CMFRI, 1985). 91.5 per cent of the owners have registered only a single boat in their

name. Four per cent of them own five boats, one per cent own four boats 0.3 per cent own

three boats and 0.5 per cent own two boats. At the disaggregated level in both locations the

90

91

majority of the registrations are made for single boats. In the N.S.belt 60.80 per cent of the

owners have single boats registered in their name and no one has two boats registered in their

name. It is observed that in the N.S belt four households own more than ten boats each and

50 trawlers landing in Neendakara harbour belong to four households of the N.S belt. Taking

Munambam alone, 79.2 per cent of the respondents have single boats registered in their

name. The owners of five boats, four boats, three boats and two boats respectively constitute

10.4 per cent, 6.5 per cent 2.6 percent and 1.3 percent in the location Munambam.

The association between the number of boats owned by households and the locations

was statistically examined using chi-square test. The Pearson Chi-square value is 24.52 and

the value of significance is 0.000. Since the level of significance is less than 0.05 there is

statistically significant association between the number of boats owned by the households and

the locations.

4.8.1. Nature of Ownership

Figure 4.6

Nature of Ownership (%)

Source: Survey Data

Figure 4.6 clearly establishes the fact that individual proprietorship is the

dominant mode of ownership (98.5%) of trawl boats. The general observation is that

92

93

94

95

in ability to take risk, quick decision making capacity, optimism, self confidence and leadership

qualities. Leadership qualities are given the least rank. Boat owners shared that a better skilled

labourer is an asset to the owners, so, the owners are likely to do any help to such a skilled

labour. The owners also conveyed that their skill in the industry is a crucial determinant for

their long run existence in the industry. Another factor that is observed is the extravagant

spending of money by few of the boat owners. The owners try to maintain good relationship

(92.7%) with the labourers and labour management skill is considered as an important

determinant in keeping the laboures attached to them. Above all they assign a qualitative

factor like luck. If we are ‘lucky enough’ was repeated by majority of the boat owners.

4.10 Source of Support

The areas of receiving support have been divided into, support for technical and

maintenance matters labour related matters, in acquiring inputs and preparing accounts. In all

these four sub sections the responses received were multiple. The options for responses for

the sub-sections were self, friends, relatives, staff, associations and others. In technical matters

the support from the staff is for 32.7 per cent self support is for 11.7 per cent, friends 18.2 per

cent and others 29.9 per cent. In technical and maintenance matters more support is from the

staff (staff includes, the technicians, workers in the boat building yard etc.) The boat owners

mainly depend on the service of technicians, friends, relatives, association and others for the

technical and maintenance matters. In labour related matters maximum support is from the

associations and it comes up to 33.8 per cent.

A semi structured interview was conducted for the crew working in the surveyed

trawlers. From the semi-structured interviews conducted, the information received was that

most of the disputes and problems among the crew and between the owner and labourers are

either settled by the association or by the crew and the owner together. The members of the

crew are well aware of the unity they have to maintain. They co-operate in possible ways in

sharing the work, sharing the earnings, preparing food while at sea and in settling all ego

clashes between them.

In acquiring the inputs like diesel, boat owners mainly depend on the local

diesel bunk which is included as others in the responses and it forms 92.2 per cent.

There are three and four diesel bunks respectively in Munambam and N.S. belt close

96

to the harbours. Boat owners mainly depend on these diesel bunks. As far as the availability is

concerned the owners depend on other diesel bunks too.

As we come to the support in preparing the accounts and finance, maximum support

is from the staff which is recorded as 79.2 per cent [Staff means the manager of the boat]. In

both locations for each trawl boat there is a manager appointed by the owner paying a sum of

money as salary. Usually retired government employees like Village officers, clerk, ex-service

men from army, headmaster of L.P, U.P, teachers of the unaided colleges etc are appointed.

They manage the finance matters in consultation with the owners. They prepare the accounts

and present it for annual audit. The costs and earnings of each trip are entered in to log book

kept for the same. Educated owners do it the themselves whenever time permits and there is

ample help from friends and relatives.

4.11 Summary

The study corroborates with the findings of the CMFRI census (2005) that among

the fisher folk of Kerala majority are Christians followed by Hindus and Muslims and it is

the same in respect of boat owners too. In Munambam though Christians are in majority,

their representation is lower than Neendakara Shakthikulangara and is compensated by

Muslims. The total illiteracy level is higher than state average of four per cent and this is

particularly observed among the Muslim boat owners. The owners of trawl boats have

an average age of 45 years and 52.3 per cent of the households are centred on five

members. Highly qualified professionals like engineers and M.B.A holders are attracted

to step in to the business of trawl fishing. The economic conditions of the majority of the

trawl boat owners are not poor and chronically indebted. The average income of the

households is Rs. 13.39 lakh. Boat owners in Munambam have more average annual

income and savings than the owners in Neendakara shakthikulangara belt. The dominant

mode of ownership in two locations is proprietorship. The representation of women

owners are more in Munambam and the male partners are likely to support them better in

managing the business of trawl boats. The boat owners’ association plays a vital role in

settling the labour related issues and clashes. Thus, the two locations of trawler fishery of

Kerala namely the N.S. belt and Munambam have marked differences in annual income

and savings but in areas of mode of ownership of boats, experiences of the owners and in

97

having trawl boat business as the primary occupation of the owners, these locations are in the

same footing.

The present chapter has summarised the general profile and occupational details of

the boat owners in the survey areas of the study. In this background it is necessary to see how

far these boat owners are successful in reaping sustainable level of profit. In order to understand

this the cost and investment aspects have to be examined. The concept of cost and its incurrence

for the trawl fishery in the N. S. belt and Munambam are discussed in the next chapter.

98