Mumbai fishers fear haze on the coast will endanger boats and nets

Amid poor visibility and a hazardous AQI, Mumbai is struggling with pollution. The city's fishing community now fears that the haze over the coast could make it difficult to sail close to the shore, raising the risk to both boats and nets.

Devendra Tandel, president of the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti, said pollution and haze hit fishing near the coast the most. According to him, fishers from Cuffe Parade and Worli head out to sea at 4 am and return by 8 am. The sunlight is already weak, and haze cuts visibility further. Tandel said small boats without GPS face a higher risk of hitting rocks along the coast. Many boats also have no radar, so nearby boats and obstacles cannot be seen, and there is a fear of nets getting snagged.

Ronnie Colaso, a fisher from Gorai, said big boats have strayed off course before and, because of the hazy air, did not see their nets at all. The nets tear and the fishers bear the loss. He said air quality had been particularly bad this week and that the rising heat had also affected health.

Koli community leaders say fog has always been seasonal, but pollution has increased the hours of low visibility. Ratandeep Bame, chairman of Khar Danda Koliwada, said winter haze used to clear by early morning. Now, because of construction and pollution, it lasts until 10 am or even later, and sets in early in the evening as well. He said several projects are also under way in the water, and in the haze fishers near the shore cannot clearly see poles and construction obstructions. Those fishing near the shore with gillnets are worried, and if a net is snagged they could lose their entire catch.

Switzy Henriques, president of the Gorai Villagers Welfare Association, said the bad air is affecting children too. "We are seeing the number of children falling ill in this air rising. Gorai is far from Mumbai, yet the polluted air has reached there," she said.