The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Brushing up old skills to beat those mighty waves

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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Brushing up old skills to beat those mighty waves

Special Correspondent

Traditional fishermen migrate to sheltered harbours

Photo: S. Mahinsha

Combined effort: Fishermen putting out to sea from the Shangumukhom beach in Thiruvananthapuram. — .

Thiruvananthapuram: Every year, during the monsoon when the sea turns rough, traditional fishermen in the district are forced to transport their boats to the sheltered harbours several kilometres away.

While fishermen from Anchengo to Varkala shift their operations to the Kollam harbour, those from Maryanad to Pozhiyoor go to Vizhinjam.

Difficult

The relocation is a difficult and costly affair.

At the new venue, the fishermen have to jostle for space with hundreds of others.

Overcrowding on the beach often leads to tension and frequent skirmishes. The prohibitive cost of transporting heavy boats by road and the problems caused by overcrowding at the fishing harbours at Kollam and Vizhinjam have forced a large number of fishermen to resort to a new method, albeit risky, to beat the furious waves that prevent them from launching the vessels from their home turf.

A blend of conventional wisdom and practicality, the ingenious method involves counting the number of waves to determine the brief lull in between the crushing breakers.

After a specific number of waves, the sea becomes calm for a short period lasting just minutes before the next spell whips up huge breakers.

Youngsters alien to the technique are falling back on experienced old-timers to acquire the skill needed for the correct judgement.

Most fishermen have now learnt to take advantage of the lull to launch boats into the choppy sea.

“It is a risky affair. The timing is crucial. Even the slightest miscalculation can lead to disaster,” says Anto Elias, district secretary of the Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation. Once the lull has been identified, the boat is pushed out from the beach to race ahead with the engine at full throttle. Most boats carry two outboard engines for extra power.

Yet, a wrong judgement could see a breaker crashing over the hull, breaking up the boat. Repairs could be expensive.

“An accident can result in heavy damage to the boat and fishing equipment. It can also lead to injuries or loss of life,” says J.P. John, a seasoned fisherman from Thumba who is now busy sharing his skills with the younger generation.

Today, most fishermen in the district, except those from Poonthura, launch their boats from the beaches in their locality.

The presence of a seawall at Poonthura hinders fishermen in the area from venturing out to sea.

“It is a race against time. The boats which put out to sea by 3 p.m. have to return early morning to catch the day’s business.

“By 7 a.m., the procurement on the beach is over and the vendors fan out to different parts of the city.

“A faster return means greater profit. Even a delay of minutes can result in a drastic reduction in the price.

“That provides another reason for the experimental technique to retain the operational base on home turf,” says T.Peter, State president of the Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation.

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