Kerala’s fisherfolk hope to be heard this election season

As Kerala gears up for Assembly elections, the state’s fishing community has renewed its appeal to political parties to address their livelihood concerns. About 40 of the state’s 140 Assembly constituencies are coastal, accounting for nearly 30%, making them electorally important in an environment often defined by narrow margins.

With nearly 10 lakh workers employed in the fisheries sector, all political fronts are carefully monitoring the community’s priorities. Many factors such as the decrease in marine resources, adverse climate change and the increase in operational expenses have negatively affected the sector.

Although the Government has made a number of allocations to address these significant challenges, their timely implementation remains a challenge. According to fisheries department officials, ₹239 crore has been allocated for fisheries in the State Budget 2026-27. This was in addition to separate allocations for higher education scholarships, infrastructure development and aid projects.

But organizations working for fishermen point to persistent gaps. For many, the yet-to-be-revised benefits remain a burden to survive the lean seasons. What they want is the introduction of an enhanced direct income support scheme. Better student scholarships for higher education is another demand.

Poor enforcement of rules

Some organizations also find that the rules are not sufficiently enforced in the fishing industry. Kerala Matsyathozhilali Federation State general secretary Abdul Razak said the state is yet to take strong action against the use of banned fishing nets. The government is prioritizing the collection of fines over checking violations, the official said.

Irfab Habeeb, a fisherman from Kozhikode and secretary of Matsya Thozhilali Congress, demanded immediate action to seize boats using banned nets. He said that in such cases, detained boats should not be released at any cost. It 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 Kerala Swathanthra Matsyathozhilali Federation, demanded a price fixing mechanism with government support to ensure fair returns. He also called for the establishment of a coastal development authority and emphasized the need to protect fishermen’s rights over marine resources.

Making a different point, NP Radhakrishnan of the Bharatiya Matsya Pravarthaka Sanghom and former member of the National Fisheries Board said that the State should make the most of the available Central assistance. He pointed out that reluctance to give the state share due to financial constraints hinders many development initiatives.

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A comprehensive overhaul of existing rehabilitation projects such as Punargeham [safe alternative housing scheme for those living very close to the sea] According to coastal families in Kozhikode, meeting their livelihood needs is vital. They noted the need to adopt an integrated approach combining better access to housing and workplaces. Other complaints include the lack of affordable boat repair yards and inadequate options for value-added product manufacturing units.

Leaders of major political fronts hinted that most of the demands would be included in election manifestos.