How Brown Mussels Sustain Livelihood Along the Thiruvananthapuram Coast

Mussels before cleaning | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN

A few minutes before nine o’clock in the morning, colorful catamarans dotted with blue, green and crimson stripes pull into the fishing harbor of Vizhinjam, nearly 10 miles away. Thiruvananthapuram city. Powered by engines or wooden oars, they carry wicker baskets piled with brown-shelled clams, still littered with dirt and weeds.

When the boats reach the shore, the fishermen go to work. Two workers carry each overflowing basket to the center of the market, where the day’s catch is auctioned. Bidding begins within seconds, with one item eventually fetching ₹15,000.

Published – 29 October 2026 11:00 AM IST