Thoothukudi Gulf of Mannar Pearl Oyster Parava Diving Tradition

The Gulf of Mannar off Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in Tamil Nadu harbours the world's oldest documented natural pearl fishery, operated by Parava fishing communities who have dived for Pinctada fucata margaritifera oysters for pearl extraction since Roman trade era accounts in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. Traditional pearl diving involved teams descending to 15-30 metre depths on a single breath hold weighted by a stone, collecting oysters into mesh bags in 30-45 second free dives, ascending on a guide rope, and depositing catch in the boat for onshore sorting. Pearl fisheries were state-regulated and held in annual open seasons that were suspended in 1961 due to oyster bed depletion from over-harvesting and siltation. A revival programme under the Marine Products Export Development Authority and CMFRI has piloted seabed restoration and cage aquaculture of pearl oysters at the Thoothukudi Marine Research Station since 2012. Parava elders hold oral genealogical records of family pearl dive grounds and oyster bed locations that continue to inform MPEDA reef restoration mapping and traditional fishing rights claims.