Kerala’s first woman deep-sea fisher fights rising seas and shrinking returns

Rekha Karthikeyan of Engandiyur in Thrissur is no stranger to rough seas. As the country’s first woman with a licence for deep-sea fishing, she has spent over a decade navigating unpredictable waters far beyond the shore. But today, her toughest battle lies much closer home.

At the Chettuva estuary, the sea is steadily advancing towards her house.

“After the Ockhi cyclone in 2017, sea erosion has worsened here. With frequent low-pressure systems and high tides, the sea keeps surging inland,” says Rekha. “The waves now reach right up to the house, bringing heaps of sand.”

Seawater seeps in and stagnates, weakening the walls and floor. The structure, already fragile, could give way at any time. Yet, relocation remains out of reach.

Rekha lives here with her husband Karthikeyan, a cardiac patient, and their four daughters—three of whom are pursuing higher studies. Despite warnings from local representatives about the unsafe condition of the house, the family has not been able to move out due to financial constraints.

Her journey into deep-sea fishing began more than a decade ago—not as a choice, but out of necessity. When two workers on her husband’s boat quit, Rekha stepped in as a deckhand. What followed was a path few women have dared to take.

“Deep-sea fishing is not like fishing in rivers or backwaters. It is physically demanding and requires skill, especially when the sea turns rough,” she says.

Over the years, she earned recognition, awards and invitations to speak to students and aspiring professionals. But few have followed her lead. The work remains too gruelling, too uncertain.

“It is not always a profitable job. Sometimes we return empty-handed. Even fuel costs may not be recovered,” she says. Unpredictable weather has further reduced fishing days. “This month, I could go to sea only for nine days,” she adds.

The family briefly paused fishing when Karthikeyan underwent bypass surgery in 2021, but returned to the sea in 2023—out of compulsion rather than choice. Fishing remains the only skill they know.

Two years ago, a severe spell of sea erosion destroyed her fishing boat and engine. For a period, Rekha was forced to stay ashore, earning a living by collecting and selling clam shells along the coast. Even now, on days when the sea is too rough, she continues to rely on that fallback.

Now, even as she continues to venture into the deep sea, Rekha carries a more immediate concern. Her dream is simple: to buy a small piece of land in a safer area and build a modest house, away from the advancing sea.