Located within one of the world’s ten Marine Biodiversity Hotspots in the south-western tip of South Asia, Vizhinjam and Kovalam are a prime representation of the divide between rich and poor in India and the two core target regions for our Global Programs in the country.

Vizhinjam serves as one of the last remaining traditional fishing villages in the state of Kerala - with diverse fish species, including the endangered Humphead Wrasse and the vulnerable Tawny Nurse Shark found within its waters. There are also nesting beaches for critically endangered Olive Ridleys, Green, Leatherback and Hawksbill sea turtles.

Unfortunately, a growing population and a pre-existing lack of economic opportunities has led Vizhinjam to become one of the most densely populated coastal communities in Kerala. Growing population and the simultaneous demand for seafood has increased the pressure on fish stocks in the region, with our observational data suggesting that fisheries are in a state of collapse. To make matters worse, continuous pollution of the ocean by plastics, medical waste and sewage has induced a cascading impact on marine ecosystems, threatening the livelihood of many. Families often get stuck in a vicious cycle of debt, by borrowing money from loan sharks to lease boats from their owners. Amidst this mounting debt, fishermen in the region often find more plastic in their nets than fish, spending more money on diesel for their boats than what they make back from their catch.

In contrast to the slums of Vizhinjam, the resort town of Kovalam attracts tens of thousands of (Indian and foreign) tourists every year. Beach resorts and restaurants line the coast, with many tourists paying a relatively high price for the services offered. Many of these tourists are unaware of the challenges that the majority of workers in Kovalam face and the lives of poverty that they lead when they return home to Vizhinjam after work, or return back to farther regions (often northern India) after the tourist season is over. They’re also unaware of the state of decline of fisheries in the region and the fact that the dollars they spend on seafood in Kovalam is helping to support this decline.

While Kovalam boomed in the 1970’s, today, tourism numbers (even pre-COVID) have been rapidly decreasing. Our team has been interviewing tourists since our projects commenced in 2017 to understand the reasons behind this, through asking them what they would like to see improve in the region and whether they will return to the region again in future. Many have responded that the waste management issue and pollution are key factors affecting their desire to return, with some mentioning that the area is too polluted, with the state of the environment significantly declining in recent years.

*Gangaya estuary in Vizhinjam contaminated by pollutants from business, small scale factories and households*

The lack of a functioning waste management system forces local communities as well as the region's tourist establishments to burn their plastic waste and dump the rest in public areas - enabling a breeding ground for disease outbreaks and damaging productive ecosystems. Much of this waste ends up in the ocean and returns back to us through our food.

Waste collected from the beach segregated by our volunteers on the ground.

Waste management is not a problem limited to the fishing community of Vizhinjam, it’s a pressing concern for coastal communities across the world. Every minute, the equivalent of one truckload of plastic waste is flushed into the ocean globally. The dramatic rise in the use of plastic without the systems in place to deal with it post-use is particularly challenging, especially due to its long lifespan and complex methods of disposal. The lack of resources to effectively deal with the increasing amounts of solid waste and thus, maintain the long-term viability of a community requires innovative, low-cost, localised solutions. This is what our ‘Global Programs’ model aims to provide in coastal communities around the world. Through our projects, we hope to drive a system level change towards restoring marine biodiversity whilst also creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Find out how you can support our Global Progam in India to drive positive change for the ocean and the communities who rely upon it for survival.