Malpe Fishing Industry

Each Saturday, my study abroad group goes to a (relatively) close place for a field trip. This week was the Malpe Fishing Industry - a bustling dock with hundred of workers. While we had been warned of the smell, there was no way to truly prepare yourself for the overwhelming aromas pounding your senses upon arrival. Nor could you prepare for the oozing black cuttlefish ink, blood, and fish products littered across every inch of the docks. Luckily, I wore cheap clothing and plastic flip flops...and put Vicks vapo-rub under my nose. Meera, a professor of philosophy at Manipal, guided our trip and gave us the handy recommendation.

Meera explaining how the harbor functions

One significant part of the Malpe Fishing industry is the Malpe Fisherwomen's Society. Traditionally considered a "man's job", fishing in this region has allowed hundreds of women to earn a livelihood. Several decades ago women in this area wanted to begin this society. I was surprised to learn that the already establish Malpe Fisherman's Society actively supported and encouraged funding for this program.Since its initiation, the Fisherwomen's Society has grown from 276 members to more than 1,200.

Sorting incredibly messy cuttlefish

Very quickly after arriving, I sensed the ever present feeling of organized chaos. Amidst yelling, dozens of boats, and baskets upon baskets of fish to be sorted, each person knew precisely his or her role. I learned that each deep sea fishing boat is typically gone for at least a week or two at a time. When the boat is about to return, that boat's specific dock crew comes to the docks to prepare to unload. Once unloaded, mostly women of the Fisherwomen's Society take the baskets and sort the fish by size and quality. A large majority of the ocean life caught are exported to a variety of countries.

Many eels are exported to Japan

Although fishing is generally considered a lower caste job (unless you own the boats), it was explained that religion, caste, and gender are essentially disregarding at the Malpe Fishing Industry. For those who may not know, caste plays an enormous, enormous role in Indian life. From determining the way others are treated to whether or not you can get a higher education, caste dominates so many aspects. Meera stressed that the fishing harbor is a center for livelihood rather than division by caste. Workers labor together without regard for differences in order to make an income.

Speaking of working together, I had not considered the many other jobs and industries relevant near the fishing harbor. For instance: ice makers & sellers to keep the fish from spoiling, salt sellers to dry and preserve the fish, auctioneers to sell what was not already exported, motor repair shops for boats, and fishing net makers and repairers. Before coming to the fishing harbor, I had not considered the complexity of the process of fishing and all of the additional components that contribute to a successful industry.

Loading a truck bed with ice

Shark? Stingray? I may never know

A main concern for the Malpe Fishing Industry is a proposal by the Karnataka Fisheries Development Cooperations (KFDC) to install fish kiosks. This time-saving process would cost over 2.5 crore Rupees (a little over $45,000) and eliminate the livelihoods of hundreds, if not thousands, of workers. A reason for this proposal is because of the cleanliness and hygiene issue. As you have seen, the harbor is a poor example of a clean work environment. Fish are thrown all over the dock, sometimes in the sun, crows snack on a fish pile when workers are not looking, and the flies are plentiful. Installation of kiosks would provide a hygienic and air conditioned process to improve the conditions.

Our final stop was at the Fishmeal and Fish Oil Factory just beyond the harbor's borders. Founded over fifty years ago, the goal of this company is to put scraps and unwanted fish or fish parts to use. Truck after truck drop off leftovers on a daily basis to be processed at the plant. To fully understand the step by step process is difficult. However, it can be said that products are essentially cooked, squished, squeezed, and separated into the crude oil section or the fishmeal section for continued processing. It was a smelly, and somewhat disturbing, place to visit. I'm happy I did, though. Not enough people (including myself) have a clear idea of the work put in to the products they purchase. To see the factory and the mode of crude fish oil and fishmeal production was eye-opening and reminded me to be a more informed buyer.

Crude fish oil...if you ever wondered what the pills start out as.

Fishmeal packed and ready to go