The Role of Women from Fishing Households: Case Study of a Kerala Fishing Village

Abstract

The physical geography of Kerala is such that it is ideally suited for fishing. The fishable areas in Kerala is as large as that of the land surface of the State. Kerala’s marine fish landings done currently account for 30% of that for the country as a whole, though Kerala commands only 10% of the coastline and 7% of the continental shelf of India. The combination, of a long sea coast in the west and a network of rivers and internal water areas, usually referred to as backwaters, has made it possible for several households in the State to take to fishing from a long time. Today, not only is fishing a major occupation but also fish is an important source of food for the people of Kerala.