Silent Seas: Kerala's Fisherfolk Face Dire Straits Post-MSC Elsa Shipwreck

In May, the MSC Elsa shipwreck off Kerala's coast led to significant financial losses for local fishing families, averaging Rs 25,000 to 30,000 per month per family. Greenpeace India, which conducted a pilot study, revealed that debris from the wreck, including drifting containers and plastic nurdles, has severely harmed fishing nets and livelihoods.

The NGO, alongside Kerala's fishermen's association, released a report spotlighting these losses during a protest against the shipping company's delayed compensation. The Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Elsa 3 went down 14.6 nautical miles from the Kochi coast, inciting calls for reparations far exceeding the company's Rs 132 crore compensation offer.

As the government demands Rs 9,531 crore in damages, community leaders urge transparency in compensation calculations and call for the protection of all impacted coastal villages. The crisis has left many fisherfolk seeking alternative employment, with protests continuing to challenge both governmental and corporate accountability in resolving this maritime disaster.