
Kerala Fisherfolk Cry Foul Over Shipwreck Fallout
The marine ecosystem of Kerala has been plagued by two recent maritime accidents, which have had a devastating impact on the state’s fishing community. The shipwrecks have not only led to a significant decline in the catch of staple fish varieties but have also caused extensive damage to fishing nets and fibre boats, inflicting losses worth lakhs of rupees. The fisherfolk of Kerala are up in arms, demanding justice and compensation for their losses.
The first accident occurred in May when a container ship collided with a barge off the coast of Kochi, resulting in the loss of several containers. The second accident took place in June when another container ship sank off the coast of Kollam, leading to the loss of even more containers. While the initial reports suggested that there was no oil spill, the fisherfolk of Kerala are far from celebrating. The drifting containers from the shipwrecks have caused irreparable damage to their nets and boats, leaving them struggling to make ends meet.
“We are not just talking about a loss of livelihood, we are talking about a loss of identity,” said K. Rajan, a fisherman from Kollam. “Fishing is not just a means of earning a living for us, it’s a way of life. And now, it’s being threatened by the actions of ships that seem to care little about the consequences of their recklessness.”
The fisherfolk of Kerala are not just complaining about the damage caused to their nets and boats. They are also worried about the impact that the accidents have had on the marine ecosystem. The staple fish varieties that they depend on for their livelihood are in short supply, and the fisherfolk are struggling to make ends meet.
“The fish catch has declined sharply since the accidents,” said T. Suresh, a fisherman from Kochi. “We used to catch a good quantity of fish, but now it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find anything worth selling. The ships that were involved in the accidents may not have spilled oil, but they have certainly spilled destruction on our livelihoods.”
The fisherfolk of Kerala are demanding compensation for the losses they have suffered. They are also calling for stricter regulations to prevent such accidents from happening in the future. The Kerala government has promised to provide compensation to the affected fisherfolk, but the process has been slow and painful.
“We are not just asking for compensation, we are asking for justice,” said K. Rajan. “We want the government to take concrete steps to prevent such accidents from happening again. We want the ships that caused this destruction to be held accountable for their actions.”
The fisherfolk of Kerala are not alone in their struggle. Environmental organizations and conservation groups are also calling for stricter regulations to prevent such accidents from happening in the future. The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard have been involved in the rescue and salvage operations, but more needs to be done to prevent such accidents from happening again.
The shipwrecks that have caused so much damage to the fishing community of Kerala are a stark reminder of the importance of marine safety and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such accidents from happening in the future. The fisherfolk of Kerala are crying foul over the shipwreck fallout, and it’s high time that their voices are heard.