When sea food edged out catch from river

Until about four decades ago, Madras residents procured freshly caught fish, including madava, keluthi, ooda, era, and nandu, from the city's rivers and estuaries, often hearing fishmongers urge them to buy. Pattinampakkam, Adyar, Kotturpuram, and Saidapet were hotspots for inland fishermen using small nets and catamarans to fish in pristine waters.

However, encroachments, pollution, and river desilting turned those fishing grounds into sewage carriers and garbage bins. The few remaining inland fishermen now fish in reservoirs and lakes during the Northeast monsoon. Sea fish, primarily from Ennore and Nainarkuppam, are now popular among residents. In 2022-23, the fishermen's catch totaled 52,134 tonnes, with the Kasimedu Fishing Harbour housing around 900 mechanized boats.

Wooden catamarans were replaced by fiberglass reinforced plastic boats due to durability issues. Inland fishermen feel they are treated as second-class citizens, facing poor rates for their catch, dirty harbors, lack of facilities, and forced displacement. They demand subsidies for boats, nets, and engines and recognition for expanding their villages.

The composition of fish species has also changed, with tilapia, basa catfish, African catfish, and pacu becoming more common catches for sea-faring fishermen.