Pier anglers in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram await restoration of Valiyathura Pier
Artisanal fishers in Thiruvananthapuram are struggling to access the sea following the partial collapse of the historic Valiyathura Pier. The structure, which served as a vital launch point for local fishermen, remains unrepaired, forcing them to travel to distant locations to work.
Why it matters
The loss of infrastructure directly threatens the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities who rely on specific coastal access points.
Under the overcast monsoon skies over the Valiyathura beach, in Thiruvananthapuram , the morning bustle is slightly subdued at the fish market. Hawkers are perched under colourful umbrellas, selling the limited catch, carelessly placed on soiled slabs of ice – a few metres away from the fishing boats docked at the shore.
Away from the hubbub, gazing out to the sea, towards a dilapidated historic Valiyathura Pier, is 42-year-old fisherman Gilbert Raju. Orally challenged by birth, he is one among the few pier anglers in the area, catching the prey using a polymer line either cast from the shore or from an elevated structure. Amidst the ongoing 52-day trawling ban, artisanal fishers from Valiyathura, such as Mr. Raju, might appear to be at an advantage over big boat owners.
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