Harsh sun leaves Kerala’s traditional fishers in distress

With the mercury climbing and the sun offering no quarter, the traditional fishing community in Kerala is struggling to survive a summer that has left the sea unusually hot. While the extreme conditions have forced a drastic reduction in working hours, the rising temperature has driven pelagic fish populations into deeper, cooler waters, effectively emptying the territorial zones where traditional boats usually operate.

“Species such as anchovy, sardine, and mackerel, which typically thrive in territorial waters, have migrated into deeper, cooler parts to escape the surface heat. To find even a modest shoal, fishers are forced to venture miles further into the deep sea. This necessity comes with a heavy price tag, the extra fuel required for these extended voyages often outweighs the value of the catch,” says Jackson Pollayil from Thiruvananthapuram, who is also the president of Kerala Swatantra Matsyathozhilali Federation.