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Drying fish at Salaya port in Gujarat is a longstanding tradition that has played an integral role in the local fishing community’s life. Salaya, a coastal town in the Saurashtra region, has a rich maritime heritage, where many fishers rely on sun-drying techniques to preserve their catch.
This method of preservation is particularly significant in rural areas where it offers an affordable and effective way to extend the shelf life of fish, which would otherwise spoil quickly.
The process of drying fish typically takes several days, with local fishers using traditional methods like drying fish on sand, mats, bamboo poles and ropes, all adapted to the hot and sunny climate of the region.
Although simple, these methods are highly effective. Smaller fish are usually dried whole, while larger ones are often split open to help speed up the drying process.
In recent years, there have been efforts to modernise the fish-drying process, introducing innovations such as solar greenhouse dryers (SGHDs). These enclosed systems use solar energy to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels, which reduces drying time and improves hygiene, resulting in better-quality dried fish products.
Despite these innovations, the adoption of modern techniques in Salaya has been somewhat limited, and traditional drying methods continue to dominate.
However, the fishing community in Salaya faces significant challenges, primarily due to the environmental and economic impacts of development.
The construction of a port jetty by Essar Ports has led to a reduction in the fishing grounds available to local fishermen, with some estimates suggesting an 80 per cent decline in the catch.
This loss of fishing space, compounded by the disruption to the natural ecosystem, has severely impacted the livelihoods of the people who depend on fishing. The situation has sparked protests, with the local community raising concerns about environmental degradation and the erosion of their traditional way of life. Despite these challenges, the practice of drying fish remains a vital part of Salaya’s culture and economy, though it now faces new pressures from both modern development and the changing environmental landscape.