Photo courtesy of Shanaya Nonis
Sri Lanka’s fisheries industry sustains the livelihoods of over two million people and provides a substantial contribution to the country’s GDP. Fifty percent of Sri Lankans consider fish to be their main or sole source of protein given its affordability and accessibility. Despite these significant statistics, the livelihoods of fishing communities are under imminent threat owing to a longstanding series of issues.
The Vanishing Catch is a documentary about the plight of the fishermen and the threat to their livelihoods including how marine conservation issues are affecting them. It highlights the complexity and the interdependency of these challenges, aiming to foster a sense of urgency in introducing sustainable solutions, alternative sources of income and to create awareness among responsible authorities, policy makers and conservationists. It also encompasses a powerful appeal for mindful consumerism and a multifaceted approach for marine and community conservation.
A story of survival
Fishing communities are grappling with a host of challenges from environmental threats to unregulated markets. The documentary, along with many other voices, captures the story of Sunil, a fisherman who narrowly escaped death when he was caught in a violent storm. Reminiscing his experience, he shares that despite the unthinkable threat to his life, the one thought that crossed his mind was the damage the storm was going to cause to his boat. Why? Because the boat isn’t merely a vessel, it is his lifeline. There have been countless times where lives were lost, people have gone missing with no report. “Two fishermen, my friends, were found two days after their death, still holding each other’s hands,” Sunil says in despair.
Extreme weather conditions continue to threaten their livelihoods even when they return from the sea. Fishers must prepare their fish in order for them to sell the catch to retailers, a process that requires a significant amount of labour, energy and finesse. This preparation is done under harsh conditions under the scorching sun or amidst rainfall; both are circumstances which cause peril to their lives and their catch. Owing to these conditions, they become susceptible to a series of diseases and the quality of their fish reduces as prolonged exposure to the sun or rain causes the fish to dehydrate or get spoiled, resulting in food wastage.
Plastic pollution, maritime disasters and illegal sand mining are human induced activities affecting the community. Studies confirm the existence of microplastics in fish and, as the cycle circles back to humans, there is a credible risk of diseases. Irresponsible garbage dumping and improper waste management are the causes of these issues. The effects of the X-press pearl disaster, which happened over four years ago, were profoundly felt by the community as they were unable to venture out to the sea for more than three months. Compensation for the losses were promised yet the fishermen report that they haven’t been given the entire compensation for the losses and that money was also distributed to those who are not in the fishing community. Despite the community’s opposition, sand mining incidents such as the Port City project and the Adani project have also caused immeasurable amounts of losses, leading to a significant decline in fish stocks.
Holding their faith close, their perseverance sharp, when they do come back with some fish, they don’t receive fair prices from retailers. With little to no bargaining power, fishers are being routinely exploited by retailers and they have no choice but to surrender to the demanded prices. If they don’t, the retailers source their fish from elsewhere. So the fishers accept the low prices just to secure some income as opposed to the risk of heading back home empty handed. This exploitation is further exacerbated by an unregulated market where Sri Lanka still exports iced fish, raising growing concerns about the nutrition and the quality of these products.
A proper banking system is not in place for the community. They have no guidance in opening savings accounts. This causes them to spend the bulk of their lives, drowning in a vicious cycle of debt with no assistance of any kind. Fishers also highlight the challenges they face due to language barriers when they need to withdraw cash from a bank. Many report that withdrawal slips written in Tamil are not accepted at banks, forcing them to wait for assistance from someone who can write in Sinhalese. These issues underscore the systemic ignorance of linguistic inclusivity in essential services, adding to the community’s frustration and dependency.
The human cost of a broken system
Facing a gut-wrenching dilemma, fishers are caught between life and death. If they brave the sea, their children might not see them again. If they do not go to the sea, their hope of earning some income is completely gone, which triggers a series of problems like food insecurity, their children being deprived of education, physical and mental health problems, sanitation problems, lack of shelter and more. If they lose their lives amid a storm, their families will only get a compensation of Rs.30,000. But not if they survive. There the question remains. How do they find the financial capacity to repair their boats when they get damaged? In the face of fishermen losing their lives, the lives of their families completely shatter and the burden of sustaining the family entirely falls on the wife.
A glimmer of hope
There are practical solutions for these challenges. The fishers suggest having a rescue boat regulated by responsible authorities. This boat could be a life saver in terms of rescuing fishers who are stranded at sea.
To protect the fishers and their catch from extreme weather conditions, all they need is a roof over their heads. Fishers report that a couple of years ago, money was passed to build sheds for this purpose yet the job was not done. However, Fisher Voices, an initiative that aims to uplift the livelihoods of the fishing community, is working on providing them shelter, alternative sources of income and a community supported fisheries network to foster a direct relationship between consumers and the fishing community, which could ease the reliance that fishers have on retailers.
The inspiration behind the lens
The research stint began in May 2024. After presenting the research as a part of an externship programme by the National Geographic Society and the Nature Conservancy, a grant was received to carry out a project aiming to uplift the livelihoods of the fishing community. After conversing with the community members with regards to what needs to be done, what they wanted was a shed to conduct their activities related to preparing their catch for sale. Respecting their request, we headed to the Coastal Conservation Department in December 2024 seeking approval for the shed to be built with grant money. However, after countless meetings, letters from government officials, permission to build the shed is yet to be given. It has been over five months. Hence, questions arise. Why is the community being deprived of a need so immediate that could so easily be given? It was also observed that authorities do not treat the community members with the respect they deserve, having forgotten and dismissed every request that was made. With these discrepancies it was time for them to finally have a platform to speak their truth and voice their plight. Their resilience, willingness and courage to speak up was inspiring to witness and deserving to be appreciated.
For us as consumers of fish, it is time to have a conscious awakening of the sources of the produce we consume. In this case, where small scale fishers are concerned, the questions we should ask ourselves include, “From where this fish is sourced from? Was it sustainably sourced?” With the growing concerns of dynamite fishing and its detrimental effects to marine life, this awakening is urgently needed.
A beginning, not an end
After years of exploitation and broken promises, the fishing community understandably responded with resistance at first. However, with the research process unfolding over ten months, the documentary was firmly grounded in trust, supported by actions, especially by purchasing materials needed to build the shed they immediately need, which will be built the sooner approval is given. Through tangible actions, strong relationships and trust slowly emerged and their voices began to shine through, shaping the soul of the documentary.
Through the documentary’s impact, awareness is gradually being raised and much needed conversations are being stimulated. One of the key struggles it explores, which is the accessibility to education, has already sparked concern. In response, there have been inquiries from donors who are interested in supporting fisherfolk’s children by providing them needed educational supplies.The documentary isn’t the end but merely the beginning of a positive and hopeful wave of change for a better future for the fishing community.