Fishermen pulling a mechanized boat to shore at Puthiyappa in Kozhikode district, Kerala. | Photo credit: K. Ragesh
As Kerala gears up for Assembly elections, the state’s fishing community has renewed its appeal to political parties to address their livelihood concerns. Of the state’s 140 Assembly constituencies, about 40 are coastal, accounting for nearly 30%, making them electorally important in a landscape often defined by narrow margins.
With the fishing industry employing nearly 10 million workers, community priorities are keenly pursued across all political fronts. Several factors, including the decline of marine resources, adverse climate change and the sharp increase in operating costs, have upset the industry.
Although the state has made a number of allocations to address critical challenges, their timely implementation remains a challenge. According to Fisheries Department officials, ₹239 crore has been earmarked for fisheries in the 2026–27 state budget. This was in addition to separate allocations for university scholarships, infrastructure development and relief projects.
However, organizations working for fishermen point to persistent gaps. For many, the still-unchanged survival aid during lean seasons remains a source of outrage. They seek to introduce an expanded system of direct income support. Another demand is better student scholarships for higher education.
Poor enforcement of rules
Some organizations also point to poor enforcement of rules in the fishing industry. Abdul Razak, state general secretary of the Kerala Matsyathozhilali Federation, said the state is yet to come up with strong measures against the use of banned fishing nets. According to him, the government prioritized collecting fines over checking violations.
Irfab Habeeb, a fisherman from Kozhikode and Congress secretary Matsya Thozhilali, sought immediate action to seize boats that use banned nets. He said ships seized in such cases should not be released at any cost. He also highlighted the poor infrastructure in many ports.
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Fishermen rinse their catch at Shangumugham beach in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo credit: Nirmal Harindran
Jackson Pollayil, state president of the Kerala Swathanthra Matsyathozhilali Federation, demanded a pricing mechanism with government support to ensure fair returns. He also pushed for the creation of a coastal development authority and emphasized the need to protect the right of fishermen to marine resources.
NP Radhakrishnan of the Bharatiya Matsya Pravarthaka Sanghom and a former member of the National Board of Fisheries said the state should make optimum use of the available central assistance. He pointed out that reluctance to provide state share in the face of financial constraints has hampered several development initiatives.
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A thorough review of existing rehabilitation projects such as Punargeham (safe alternative housing for those living very close to the sea) is essential to meet their livelihood needs, according to coastal families in Kozhikode. They pointed out that an integrated approach combining housing with better access to work spaces should be adopted. Other complaints are the lack of affordable ship repair facilities and poor options for value-added production units.
Leaders of the main political fronts have indicated that many of the demands will make it into the election manifestos.
Published – 20 March 2026 22:57 IST
