The Adan River is one of the most important tributaries of the Painganga River. The river flows from Longitude 770.22` Latitude 200.17` up to longitude 780.21` Latitude 190.9`. The length of the Adan river is 209.21 km and the valley of Adan is about 10 km to 22 km wide.
The Adan River originates in the Washim district of Maharashtra (India) and flows across a curve, north, east and south, and finally converges with the Painganga River. The river Arunavati combines with the Adan river at about 13 kilometers before it converges with the Painganga. The river almost stops to flows in the summer months, however several pools are left in the latter part of its river course.
Dams have been built on the Adan river. One dams at its origin near Sonala village and other near Karanja (Lad) city both in Washim district of Maharashtra state (India). The river is flows through scrubland and a degraded type of dry deciduous forest with extensive agriculture. There are lot of proportions to the problems created by dam and can be categorized in to following categories.
The fishermen communities are affected due to the dams. The dam in the upper portion of the river has been inaccessible to local anglers due to spread of water. In water spread area of dam people are not allowed to fish. Also due to dam in the upper portion of river there occurs excessive siltation ensuing into changes in the hydrology of river. In the lower courses of river due to unavailability of water there is an extreme growth of hydrophytes due to which, fishing is not a simple job for people of this region.
The main fish species found in Adan River are Hamilton, Bloch, Sykes, Gray, Linnaeus, Valenciennes, Lacepede, Pallas and many others. Many fishing communities reside in this region. Some of them are Bhoi, Cullercoats, Gilleleje, Hovden, Kolis, Macassan, Mogaveeras, Polperro, Póvoa de Varzim, St. Abbs, Sørvágur, Tilting and Tlingit.
Bhoi is a fishing community of this area and primarily do their fishing in Adan river. Bhoi are habitually dependent upon the river Adan for there survival. Due to depleting fish resources their lives are in danger. The Garri (Hooks) is popular among children. This is the popular baited hook, in which the stick used made up of bamboo. Earthworms and or small dead fishes are usually used for bait. Ghan Bhor Jar (Cast net small) is the process where, the cast net is very common practice among the Bhoi fisherman of Adan River. It needs expertise to use and it is quite costly. Its circumference measured 840 cm and mesh size is 9X9 mm.
Bhoi people of this area also use Motha bhor jar or Cast net large, which is a large size cast net. Pelni is another gadget used in River Adan to catch fish, which is a triangle of the three bamboo poles to which a fine mesh is attached. It is applied against flowing water and once shoal of flowing fishes enters inside, the net lifts and entered fish are collected.
Atki is the Gill Net, which is passive method of the fishing and most popular among the Bhoi community catching fish in Adan river. This is gill net made up of synthetic fibers. Though, previously the cotton fibers were in use. The length, width and mesh size is highly changeable and depends on what sized fishes to be caught and habitat of its application. If the habitat deepness is more, large size gill net used. Weaving of the gill net is expert work and it is an important activity of the Bhoi people.
