Dakshin Foundation 180d ago

In the coastal waters of Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, generations of fishers have harvested blue crabs using traditional, low-impact methods passed down by their ancestors. These practices, rooted in harmony with the sea, have sustained both livelihoods and marine habitats for centuries. Today, that balance is shifting. As export markets expand and subsidies favour mechanised trawlers, small-scale fishers are left without similar support. The loss of seagrass beds, caused by bottom-trawling, threatens crab populations and the livelihoods that depend on them. Many fishers are being forced to move away from the sea and the traditions they have upheld, in search of alternate livelihoods. Olaikal Ulagam captures the experiences of fishers and fishworkers as they reflect on their knowledge, challenges and hopes for the future. It highlights co-management as a pathway to secure the future of Palk Bay’s blue crab fishery, and to gradually restore balance between communities and the sea. Dakshin Foundation works closely with coastal and fishing communities to support sustainable and equitable fisheries. Explore our programmes here: www.dakshin.org Credits: We are grateful to the following fisher people of Palk Bay for their support: Josephine Lucia Mary V. Kalidas Maria Arockia Pramila Pimila Sengol Santhy Mary Ruth Sebasthiyan Pillai Trial Cathrine Vijayaraj Arul Muthu Ananda Raja Antony Sami Antony Michelina Christopher Prabhakaran Ebziba Buela Jerald Mary G. Joseph Ananthan We thank the following departments: Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Ramanathapuram District District Collector’s Office, Ramanathapuram Funding support: Environmental Defense Fund Additional support: Rainmatter Foundation LGT Venture Philanthropy Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Dakshin team Aarthika R Adithya Pillai Avani S.R. Ayiswarya S. Varghese Chandru Vasan Muhammed Musthafa Naveen Namboothri Nayana Udayashankar Pavithran M M Sangeetha U Velumani T Filmed and Edited by Rahul Demello Produced by Dakshin Foundation