Fins, Fish and Fishers - A tale of waning coexistence in the twin ports of Kollam, Kerala

Monolisha, S (2025) Fins, Fish and Fishers - A tale of waning coexistence in the twin ports of Kollam, Kerala. The Pod: Bulletin of the Marine Mammal Consortium of India, 3. pp. 3-6.

Text Bulletin of the Marine Mammal Consortium of India_2025_Monolisha S.pdf Download (3MB)

Abstract

Driven by the curiosity to learn how traditional fishers were responding to scientific advisory services on ocean state, climate, and weather forecasts, my friend and I boarded a train from Ernakulam to Kollam district of Kerala. Though a business graduate, Jamshi, a native and socio-economic enthusiast, joined me to share her roots and extending her experiences with the coastal hubs of Kollam, Kerala. With salt-laden air and the scent of the sea, our journey began on a bright day in December 2018 at the twin ports of Kollam, Sakthikulangara and Neendakara, a first-time visit for me. Our visit was part of a research project assessing the impact of ocean state and marine fishery advisory services on the welfare of coastal fishing communities. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey to understand how fishers perceived, accessed, and used these scientific advisories in daily decision-making. Set against the backdrop of initiatives by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, and other institutions promoting forecasts and outreach on source of dissemination, we explored whether these efforts encouraged pro-environmental behaviour, and if traditional ecological knowledge was still alive and well in these communities.

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