How brown mussels sustain livelihoods along Thiruvananthapurams coast

A few minutes before nine in the morning, colourful catamarans streaked with blue, green and crimson glide into Vizhinjam fishing harbour, nearly 16 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram city. Powered by motors or wooden oars, they carry wicker baskets piled with brown-shelled mussels, still speckled with dirt and barnacles.

As the boats reach the shore, the fisherfolk get to work. Two labourers carry each overflowing basket to the centre of the market, where the day’s catch is auctioned. Within seconds, bidding begins, with one lot eventually fetching ₹15,000.