In the Wake of the Waves: A Coast’s Unseen Struggle The Ramanathapuram coastline, stretching across the rich marine corridors of the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, has long sustained a way of
life deeply rooted in the rhythms of the sea. For generations, the communities here have trusted the
ocean—its bounty, its seasons, its moods. Fishing is more than an occupation in this part of Tamil Nadu; it is an inheritance passed from parent to child, a quiet knowledge of currents, tides, and shoals that cannot be taught in classroom This region contributes over 27% of Tamil Nadu’s marine fish landings and accounts for more than 24% of the state fisher population, depending directly on the sea. But beneath this rich livelihood tapestry lies an increasingly frayed thread. Over the last four to five decades, overfishing, habitat degradation, and pollution have slowly changed the nature of the ocean these communities rely on. Fisherfolk speak of declining catches, altered fish migration patterns, and rising operational costs. Yet, one of the most persistent threats to both livelihoods and marine life is one that rarely makes itself visible at first glance—ghost gear.Unlike the storms that batter boats or the industrial waste that stains the shore, ghost gear is subtle.
It has no shape until it tangles, no sound until it tears. These are the abandoned nets, broken lines,
and discarded traps that continue drifting under the surface, long after their owners have forgotten them. With no owner and no purpose, they continue to trap, entangle, and destroy—silently, relentlessly. But this is not just an ecological story. It is a human one. It is the story of fishing communities pushed into uncertainty by a problem they didn’t create alone, but must now face together