Coastal Divers Sustain Livelihoods Through Brown Mussel Harvesting Along Kerala Shores

Morning Catch

Around nine in the morning, colourful catamarans packed with brown-shelled mussels arrive at the Vizhinjam fishing harbour, located roughly 16 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram city. Workers unload the dirt-speckled baskets into the middle of the market for a quick auction where one lot can fetch up to 15,000 rupees. Mussel harvesting along this rocky coast hits its peak between September and February. Fishers gather the shellfish every morning from six to ten, using wide metal tools to scrape them off the rocks either by swimming down or setting out in boats.

Diver Hardships and Local Trade

Seasoned divers bear deep physical scars from their work in the water, though many say the saline waves help their cuts heal fast. More than 280 individuals harvest and trade brown mussels in Vizhinjam alone, with others operating in places like Kovalam, Azhimala, Poonthura, and Muthalappozhi. Daily earnings can reach 2,000 rupees, but stormy seas and high waves frequently halt operations. Roadside vendors and seafood restaurants buy up the harvest at auctions, while retail sellers like Nirmala purchase multiple baskets to supply local buyers.

Market Demand and Farming

Consumer demand has climbed due to social media attention, pushing prices higher alongside weather disruptions like rain. Meanwhile, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute unit in Vizhinjam has started an open-sea mussel longline farming unit to produce more seeds and expand cultivation. Because local tropical warmth helps mussels grow fully in just six to eight months, this farming approach offers strong profits. To protect stocks, the Diving Workers Welfare Society restricts workers to two baskets daily and bans the collection of young shellfish.

Context

Mussel harvesting is a traditional coastal livelihood in parts of southern India, deeply tied to local food habits and seasonal sea conditions. Marine research bodies frequently test new farming methods like open-sea longlines to support fishers when wild catches fluctuate due to weather or environmental changes.