For generations, the Palk Bay has been the lifeblood of both the Tamil and Sri Lankan fishing communities, supporting their livelihoods. But today, this once-thriving ecosystem is under threat. Driven by destructive practices like bottom trawling, 65 per cent of the commercially important varieties have been overfished in Tamil Nadu waters.
On top of that, human-induced climate change is warming the oceans, while rising pollution and escalating conflict between India and Sri Lanka are making an already fragile situation worse. So, what is really happening here? And what lies ahead for Palk Bay and the communities that depend on it?