Lok Sabha Question No. 357 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Fisheries Crisis in Kerala
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 357 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 TH  JULY, 2025

## Fisheries Crisis in Kerala

## 357.    Shri K C Venugopal:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is aware of the fisheries crisis along the coast of Kerala, following accidents involving the cargo vessel MSC ELSA 3 and the container ship MV Wan Hai 503, if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) the estimated loss of damage for the fishermen due to these accidents, including the loss of fishing gears and loss of livelihood for considerable number of days;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide any sort of compensation for the loss of livelihood to the fishermen due to the accidents; and
- (d)  whether  it  is  in  the  notice  of  the  Government  the  fact  that  six  marine  mammal carcasses-four dolphins and two whales have washed ashore on the Alappuzha coast, and if so, whether the Government has carried out any study in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)

(a) : The cargo vessel MSC ELSA 3 shipwreck occurred on 24-25 May 2025, approximately 39 nautical miles (Nm) south off Kochi, Kerala whereas the incident of MV Wan Hai 503 happened  on  09th  June  2025  at  around  130  Nm  North  West  of  Kochi,  Kerala.  The Government of Kerala has informed that, in connection with MSC ELSA 3, as an immediate response, the Disaster Management Department of Kerala State had issued advisories to the fishermen on 25th May, 2025, instructing fishermen not to venture within a 20 nautical mile radius of the sunken vessel. The Government of Kerala informed that high-level meeting was convened with the scientists of ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and representatives of fishermen on 28th May, 2025 to discuss the possible ecological impact and necessary actions to be taken for protection of fishery resources  and  livelihood  of  fishermen.  Accordingly,  on  19.06.2025,  a  Joint  Coordination Committee  was  constituted  by  the  State  Government  with  representatives  from  KUFOS, CMFRI,  CIFT,  State  Pollution  Control  Board,  Food  safety,  National  Health  Mission,  and Coastal Police to review the scenario and to conduct necessary sampling, testing of water, and fish in accordance with the standard protocols. The test reports revealed that the fish samples were all in good condition, and no objectionable smell or flavour was observed, and the pH, Salinity and the conductivity of water samples were within the normal range. The preliminary  analysis  of  water  and  fish  samples  revealed  that  there  were  no  trace  or  the presence of oil content, no direct evidence to prove the presence of hazardous chemicals, and that the fish samples from the coasts of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kollam, etc. were safe for consumption.

(b) & (c): The Government of Kerala has reported an estimated income loss of ₹106.51 crore, affecting approximately 1,60,417 fisherfolk and allied workers across four coastal districts: Ernakulum,  Alappuzha,  Kollam,  and  Thiruvananthapuram  because  of  the  MSC  ELSA  3 shipwreck  and  the  associated  ban  on  fishing  in  20  Nm  of  the  shipwreck  zone.  The Government  of  Kerala  has  informed  that  financial  assistance  @Rs.1000/-  per  family  as interim relief was provided to 1,05,518 marine fishermen families (including 78,498 marine fishermen families and 24,020 allied fishermen families) from the SDRF, along with 6 kg of rice per family for compensating for their livelihood loss.

(d):    As per information from Alappuzha district, carcass of one dolphin was washed ashore during the last week of May 2025, and carcasses of another three dolphins and one whale were  washed  ashore  during  June  2025.  The  Government  of  Kerala  has  informed  that carcasses  of  all  four  dolphins  and  one  whale  were  buried  following  autopsies  under  the supervision of officials from the Forest Department. The carcass of another whale, which was highly deteriorated, could not be towed onto shore due to inclement weather and rough seas. The Government of Kerala has further informed that they have not conducted any study in this regard, as the matter related to marine mammals comes under the purview of the Forest Department.

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