58% of Kerala’s fisheries workforce is made up of migrant workers: CMFRI

Kochi: Migrant workers form 58 per cent of Kerala’s marine fisheries workforce, making them the backbone of the sector, according to a study by the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

The findings, part of a national project on labour migration in Indian fisheries, covered harvest, post-harvest and market segments. Munambam harbour in Ernakulam reported the highest concentration of migrant workers at 78 per cent in the mechanised fishing sector. Most migrants are from Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha.

The study found migrants account for 50 per cent of post-harvest jobs and 40 per cent of roles in fish markets. However, it also pointed to declining interest among younger generations, both native and migrant, in taking up marine-related livelihoods, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of the workforce.

However, income and expenditure patterns showed stark contrasts. Migrant workers earned significantly less than natives, averaging ₹25,000 a month in harvest centres and ₹11,000 in post-harvest jobs, compared to around ₹30,000 earned by locals. While native workers set aside 20–30 per cent of their earnings for savings and spent more on housing and education, migrants remitted up to 75 per cent of their income to families in their home states. Many lived in boats with minimal amenities in Kerala.

Despite their majority share in the workforce, migrant labourers remain vulnerable, facing low wages, lack of social security, health risks and discrimination. Natives, by contrast, struggled with insufficient income, debt, off-season unemployment and lack of affordable credit.

The study’s ‘Labour Mobility Grid’ highlighted poverty and unemployment in source states as key push factors, while better wages and steady demand in Kerala act as pull factors.

The findings were presented at a consultative workshop at CMFRI, which was inaugurated by Dr Maja Jose, Deputy Director of Fisheries. The workshop sought feedback from stakeholders and proposed urgent policy measures to enhance the welfare of migrant workers. Recommendations included improved housing facilities, health coverage, educational support, and livelihood diversification.

CMFRI Principal Scientist Dr Shyam S Salim, who leads the project, said the study underscores the critical dependence of Kerala’s fisheries on migrant labour and the urgent need for targeted interventions to address inequality and workforce sustainability.