Mahe Puducherry Enclave Estuarine River Fishing Kerala

Mahe, the northernmost enclave of Puducherry territory located on the Kerala Malabar coast, supports a traditional estuarine fishing community working the Mahe (Mahé) River tidal zone. Fishers use country boats, cast nets, and bamboo-stake fish traps to harvest tilapia, pearl-spot (karimeen), mullet, catfish, and brackish-water prawn from the tidal estuary through the year. The Mahe Cooperative Fishers Society has negotiated exclusive artisanal fishing rights over a 3-kilometre tidal stretch under the Puducherry Fisheries Department. Women cooperative members process and sun-dry surplus fish on tiled terrace platforms of traditional Malabar-style riverbank houses. The cooperative maintains the Mahe riverbank mangrove strip as a natural fish nursery and regulates net mesh size to protect juvenile fish populations.