Overfishing along Kerala Coast-Causes and Consequences

Causes and Consequences John Kurien T R Thankappan Achari In Kerala the initial approach to fisheries development based on raising the productive capacity of existing facilities by developing artisanal fishing relying on traditional methods gave way by the mid-sixties to the 'modernisation growth-oriented model' which saw the traditional base of fishing as a hindrance and sought to introduce specialised capital-intensive techniques. Artisanal fishermen adversely affected by this responded at two levels- organised protest against destructive fishing and the adoption of new technology to enhance their declining harvest. The result has been the ruinous overuse of a common property resource. This paper examines the combination of economic, technological and social factors operating in a specific context that has led to this overuse and highlights the deleterious consequences of this to the marine ecosystem and concludes with suggestions for resolving the crisis.