Why fishers in Kerala ignore dire warnings and venture into sea

Beneath the churn of Kerala’s turbulent seas, two dead and five missing fishermen from Muthalapozhi, Vizhinjam, Tangasseri, and Neendakara bear testament to a stark human tragedy where survival at sea is pitted directly against survival at home. All incidents were reported during a brief window from July 29 while a blanket weather warning, banning all fishing operations, was in effect. For low-income crews, sitting out continuous days means total income loss, and abiding by warnings is a luxury they cannot afford. Meanwhile, officials confess that they are powerless to block unsafe departures at many centres.

Heightened risk at sea remains secondary to the immediate threat of starvation on land. “It is all about livelihood. Should we starve to death, or die at sea,” asks Andrew from Anchuthengu. Also, climate change is disrupting the age-old maritime knowledge traditional fishers have relied upon for generations. “We are long accustomed to reading daily wind currents and sea behaviours, but shifting climate systems now defy even deep-seated traditional wisdom,” adds Mr. Andrew.

Fisheries and administrative officials emphasise that comprehensive weather alerts and stay-at-home orders are issued promptly under the Disaster Management Act through , public announcements and messaging groups. However, authorities admit that physically enforcing these bans at every landing centre is virtually impossible due to limited manpower. Furthermore, officials highlight that venturing out during extreme weather leaves fishers beyond immediate rescue, as responding units would face equal peril in the hazardous seas.

“Fishing boats pay nominal premiums for government insurance, but ignoring weather alerts risks forfeiting coverage. We have provided compensation during prolonged periods of severe weather, but there is no systematic plan for lost fishing days, leaving financial aid entirely ad hoc during extreme atmospheric conditions,” says an official.

A meagre sum

Union leaders and activists argue that government stay-at-home mandates fail to address the core economic reality of fishing families, forcing workers to risk treacherous seas out of sheer desperation to escape debt and poverty. “By issuing daily alerts without offering guaranteed minimum wages or survival compensation, the State effectively strips fishers of their sole daily livelihood,” says Jackson Pollayil, president of the Kerala Swatantra Matsyathozhilali Federation. He points out that he relief provided in the past was a meagre sum, restricted to just one person per household, and delivered far too irregularly to keep families afloat. “When the department issues daily warnings telling fishers not to venture into the sea, they ignore the reality that these families depend entirely on daily fishing to survive,” he adds.