SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS OF FISHERMEN: A CASE STUDY OF THE SONBEEL IN SRIBHUMI DISTRICT OF ASSAM
Keywords:
Sonbeel fishermen, Socio-economic Status, Fishing income, Environmental degradation, Resource depletion
Abstract
This study examines the socio-economic conditions of fishermen in the Sonbeel wetland, Sribhumi district, Assam, India. The primary objectives are to assess their economic status, livelihood strategies and challenges, and social-educational conditions. Primary data were collected from 110 respondents using structured interviews and household surveys. Descriptive statistics frequency distributions, arithmetic means, standard deviations, and graphical analysis were applied to interpret the findings. Fishing emerges as the major source of income in Sonbeel. However, income variability, limited institutional credit (only 10% accessed loans), and inadequate government support hinder stability. Most households have electricity and sanitation, but safe drinking water and clean cooking fuel remain deficient. Environmental degradation, resource depletion, and market fluctuations amplify vulnerabilities. Targeted interventions are recommended to promote financial inclusion, sustainable resource management, and socio-economic resilience in this community.
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References
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22. Sharif, B. N., Asif, A. A., Vaumik, S., Zafar, M. A., Islam, M. M., & Samad, M. A. (2015). Socio-economic condition of fish farmer and trader at the village of Pitamborpur in Chaugachha upazilla in Jessore, Bangladesh. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 3(2), 212-217.
23. Tikadar, K. K., Islam, M. J., Saha, S. M., Alam, M. M., Barman, S. K., & Rahman, M. A. (2022). Livelihood status of small-scale fishermen and determinants of their income: Insights from north-eastern floodplains of Bangladesh. Geography and Sustainability, 3(3), 204-213.
24. Tietze, U. (2016). Technical and socio-economic characteristics of small-scale coastal fishing communities, and opportunities for poverty alleviation and empowerment. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular, (C1111), I.
25. Toraskar, D. N., Wasave, S. M., Shirdhankar, M. M., Chaudhari, K. J., Sawant, S. S., Wasawe, S. S., & Salunkhe, A. B. (2020). Socio-economic status of Rampan operators of Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.
26. Ünal, V., & Bodur, H. G. (2017). The socio-economic impacts of the silver-cheeked toadfish on small-scale fishers: A comparative study from the Turkish coast. Su Ürünleri Dergisi, 34(2), 119-127.
27. Young, M. A., Foale, S., & Bellwood, D. R. (2016). Why do fishers fish? A cross-cultural examination of the motivations for fishing. Marine Policy, 66, 114-123.
2. Billah, M. M., Kader, M. A., Siddiqui, A. A. M., Shoeb, S., & Khan, R. (2018). Studies on fisheries status and socio-economic condition of fishing community in Bhatiary coastal area Chittagong, Bangladesh. J. Entomol. Zool. Stud, 9.
3. Bhuyan, S., & Islam, S. (2016). Present status of socio-economic conditions of the fishing community of the Meghna River adjacent to Narsingdi district. Bangladesh. J. Fish. Livest. Prod, 4(4), 1-5.
4. Baki, M. A., Islam, M. R., Hossain, M. M., & Bhouiyan, N. A. (2015). Livelihood status and assessment of fishing community in adjacent area of Turag-Buriganga River, Dhaka, Bangladesh. International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology, 3(4), 347-353.
5. Choudhury, M., Sharma, A., Singh, P., & Kumar, D. (2021). Impact of climate change on wetlands, concerning Sonbeel, the largest wetland of North East, India. In Global Climate Change (pp. 393-414). Elsevier.
6. Das, M. R., Sunuram Ray, S. R., Uttam Kumar, U. K., Salma Begum, S. B., & Tarafdar, S. R. (2015). Livelihood assessment of the fishermen community in the south west region of Bangladesh.
7. Das, S., & Bhattacharjee, J. (2015). Climate Change and Livelihood Problem of Fishing Communities Who Are Living in Largest Wetland of Assam Named as Sone Beel. European Scientific Journal.
8. Fahrun, M., Dirwan, D., & Rajindra, R. (2021). Study on the poverty of traditional fishermen in Lombonga Village, Balaesang District, Donggala Regency. International Journal of Health, Economics, and Social Sciences (IJHESS), 3(3), 156-164.
9. Freduah, G., Fidelman, P., & Smith, T. F. (2017). The impacts of environmental and socio-economic stressors on small scale fisheries and livelihoods of fishers in Ghana. Applied Geography, 89, 1-11.
10. Hossain, F. I., Miah, M. I., Pervin, R., Hosen, M. H. A., & Haque, M. R. (2015). Study on the socio-economic condition of fishermen of the Punorvaba River under Sadar Upazila, Dinajpur. Journal of Fisheries, 3(1), 239-244.
11. Kalita, G. J., Sarma, P. K., Goswami, P., & Rout, S. (2015). Socio-economic status of fishermen and different fishing gear used in Beki River, Barpeta, Assam. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 3(1), 193-198.
12. Lein, A. A., & Setiawina, N. D. (2018). Factors affecting the fishermen household income and welfare. International research journal of management, IT and social sciences, 5(4), 80-90.
13. Mahmud, S., Ali, M. L., & Ali, M. M. (2015). Present scenario on livelihood status of the fishermen in the paira river, southern Bangladesh: constraints and recommendation. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 2(4), 23-30.
14. Mulyasari, G., Waluyati, L. R., & Suryantini, A. (2020). Livelihood vulnerability to climate change of fishermen in the coastal area of Bengkulu Province, Indonesia. Aquaculture, Aquarium, Conservation & Legislation, 13(3), 1242-1254.
15. Quiñones, M. B., Jimenez, C. R., Rosa, H. K. T. D., Paghasian, M. C., Samson, J. J., Molina, D. L., & Garcia, J. P. (2020). Socio-Economic Condition Among the Fisherfolks in Iligan Bay, Northern Mindanao, Philippines. Journal of Environment and Aquatic Resources, 5, 43-60.
16. Rao, G. S., Sathianandan, T. V., Kuriakose, S., Mini, K. G., Najmudeen, T. M., Jayasankar, J., & Mathew, W. T. (2016). Demographic and socio-economic changes in the coastal fishing community of India. Indian Journal of Fisheries, 63(4), 1-9.
17. Rizal, A., & Nurruhwati, I. (2019). New Methodological Approaches for Change in Traditional Sectors: The Case of the West Java Fisheries Socio Economic System. World News of Natural Sciences, 22.
18. Roy, M., & Mazumder, R. (2015). Should Sustainability of Fish Stock Be Prioritised Over Catch Efficiency–A Study on Traditional Fishermen in Karimganj District of Assam. International journal of African and Asian Studies, 15, 20-33.
19. Roy, M., & Mazumder, R. (2015). Technical Efficiency of Fish Catch and Its Socio-Economic Determinants–A Study on Traditional Fishermen of Karimganj District of Assam. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 6(9), 182-192.
20. Roy, M., & Mazumder, R. (2016). Technical Efficiency of Fish Catch in Traditional Fishing: A Study in Southern Assam. Journal of Regional Development and Planning, 5(1), 55.
21. Sudarmo, A. P., Baskoro, M. S., Wiryawan, B., Wiyono, E. S., & Monintja, D. R. (2015). Social economics characteristics of coastal small-scale fisheries in Tegal City, Indonesia. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research (IJSTR), 4(1), 85-8.
22. Sharif, B. N., Asif, A. A., Vaumik, S., Zafar, M. A., Islam, M. M., & Samad, M. A. (2015). Socio-economic condition of fish farmer and trader at the village of Pitamborpur in Chaugachha upazilla in Jessore, Bangladesh. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 3(2), 212-217.
23. Tikadar, K. K., Islam, M. J., Saha, S. M., Alam, M. M., Barman, S. K., & Rahman, M. A. (2022). Livelihood status of small-scale fishermen and determinants of their income: Insights from north-eastern floodplains of Bangladesh. Geography and Sustainability, 3(3), 204-213.
24. Tietze, U. (2016). Technical and socio-economic characteristics of small-scale coastal fishing communities, and opportunities for poverty alleviation and empowerment. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular, (C1111), I.
25. Toraskar, D. N., Wasave, S. M., Shirdhankar, M. M., Chaudhari, K. J., Sawant, S. S., Wasawe, S. S., & Salunkhe, A. B. (2020). Socio-economic status of Rampan operators of Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.
26. Ünal, V., & Bodur, H. G. (2017). The socio-economic impacts of the silver-cheeked toadfish on small-scale fishers: A comparative study from the Turkish coast. Su Ürünleri Dergisi, 34(2), 119-127.
27. Young, M. A., Foale, S., & Bellwood, D. R. (2016). Why do fishers fish? A cross-cultural examination of the motivations for fishing. Marine Policy, 66, 114-123.
Published
2026-02-19
How to Cite
Dr. Subhash Sinha. (2026). SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS OF FISHERMEN: A CASE STUDY OF THE SONBEEL IN SRIBHUMI DISTRICT OF ASSAM. IJRDO - Journal of Applied Management Science, 12(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.53555/ams.v12i1.6565
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Articles
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