Like any other morning, the Versova harbour in the Indian city of Mumbai is bustling — a fleet of mechanised boats have just arrived with a fresh catch; trucks await the catch to be loaded to ferry them as far as southern and eastern India; small-scale fishmongers, mostly women, wait for their share to be sold across Mumbai. But, the Koli community, who call themselves the sons (and daughters) of Mumbai’s soil, say these are subdued scenes at the harbour.

The Kolis, who have been in the fishing business for generations, are now encountering an unfamiliar Arabian sea. According to CEEW analysis, Mumbai district has witnessed a two-fold increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme cyclone events since 2010. The frequent cyclones and the change in rainfall patterns have led to a loss of fishing days and reduced fish catch. The Kolis and many other fishing communities along India’s west coast are now battling the adverse impacts of climate change.

Away from the bustle at the harbour, a few elderly men from the Koli community are contemplating the pressing issue at hand. Rajhans Tapke, a member of the National Association for Fishermen, says that the last three years have been hard for the community.

“When a cyclonic depression is formed, the traditional fishing grounds keep shifting. Now, it takes longer to find and catch fish,’’ Rajhans says. He adds that this hikes up the costs because of an increase in fuel consumption and other expenditure incurred while spending more time offshore while getting a lesser catch.

According to Rajhans, nearly 500 mechanised fishing vessels dotted the Versova harbour a decade ago, but not more than 100 are active today. Despite the recent challenges, the price at which the fish is sold has remained the same, and many boat owners now find it unviable to continue.

Sunil Phoka, 52, who comes from a family of fishing vessel owners, agrees with Rajhans. “Earlier, the rainfall was predictable. From the onset of monsoon, the rains extended maximum till October,” Sunil says. Nowadays, it can rain anytime, and a cyclone can form at any moment. Due to multiple cyclone warnings in recent years, his boats had to be recalled several times, Sunil adds.

“I have to pay for the extra travel and for the manpower while we don’t make any additional revenue. Who will help me bear the added costs? On top of this, who would be even willing to go to the sea under such conditions?” Sunil asks.

Because of the increasing cyclone frequency, the Koli community is also concerned about the damage to their boats. Tucked away in a corner at the Versova beach was Jayaraj Hegde’s boat, damaged by cyclone Tauktae. Bending down, Jayraj was inspecting a hole in the bottom hull. Repairing the damages would cost him over INR 0.1 million. It was only a year ago when Jayaraj bought the boat for INR 1.1 million, but the unexpected damage put him on the back foot.

The allied fishing sectors, primarily a livelihood source for women, are also feeling the pinch because of erratic rainfall patterns. Sixty-one-year-old Jesubhai, engaged in the dry fish business for decades, says that she had been struggling because of the lack of sunlight for long spells of the year. “We can continue working only if there is enough sunlight. In recent years, it has become difficult to predict the rainfall patterns,” Jesubhai says.

Jesubhai and others sun-dry the fish on crisscrossing wooden poles on leased land near the beach. Fish stocks are rendered useless if they cannot be sun-dried. On the other hand, people like Jesubhai cannot reclaim their money from boat owners and land owners as they have to pay upfront. “Unseasonal rainfall means that we are forced to be at home without any income,’’ Jesubhai adds.

More frequent cyclones and erratic rainfall patterns are detrimental to the Koli fishing community in Mumbai and fishing communities across India. With the younger generation exploring other employment opportunities, the Kolis are looking at a future where fewer people would be taking up their traditional occupations. In order to ensure the economic viability of fishing and allied businesses, there is a need to focus on developing precise, impact-based early warning systems. Besides, they also need to be provided adequate compensatory support for loss and damage incurred.

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