Lack of recognition and support/elevation to ILK of Mukkuvar fisher community accelerating overfishing, disappearance of beaches and destruction of marine biodiversity in the Trivandrum coast of Kerala, India

This paper examines the critical role of Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) of the Mukkuvar fisher community in Trivandrum, Kerala, India in managing marine biodiversity and combating overfishing. Despite extensive documentation of their knowledge regarding intertidal zones, seabed ecosystems, coastal processes, lagoon estuaries, and other marine conditions since 2015, the Mukkuvar fishers face escalating challenges due to the lack of recognition and support for their customary management of marine spaces and traditional practices. Collaborative efforts between citizen scientists and professional researchers have led to the creation of India’s first Marine Biodiversity Register (MBR), highlighting significant findings such as identification of 29 rocky reefs and associated seabed ecosystems like sea sponges, seaweeds, sea worms, crabs, lobsters and more than 200 fish species. Confirming the ecological and socio-economic significance of these, in a latest study it identified over 1,200 marine species in the area included in the MBR. Three shipwreck sites were also identified in the Trivandrum district alone by the Mukkuvar fishers and later evidenced by the scuba divers. More than 100 rocky reefs and other seabed ecosystemes were also documented by Friends of Marine Life (FML), a local community organisation with the support of the fishers and a few mainstream scientists. Many ecosystems in a deeper sea (within the limit of 48 km from the shore) and open sea ecosystems (beyond the territorial waters of the countries) are identified by the Mukkuvar fishers, but yet to be documented. These fishers employ sustainable management practices including responsible fisheries based on principles of equitable resource distribution and minimal habitat disruption. However, the introduction of industrial fishing technologies like trawling and unchecked coastal infrastructure development like port construction has led to severe overfishing and habitat destruction. Not only that there is disappearance of beaches on the northern side of the hard structures. This paper argues for the urgent elevation of ILK in marine spatial planning (MSP) and policy making to ensure the sustainability of marine resources and the protection of coastal ecosystems, while emphasising the importance of integrating community knowledge into mainstream scientific approaches. 

Key words: ILK, Mukkuvar, Kerala, sustainability of marine resources, elevation/ integration