The fishing season in Mumbai is primarily from August to May, with a significant break during the monsoon months of June and July for both safety and sustainability reasons. The Koli fishermen and other fishing communities adhere to these seasonal cycles and regulations to ensure the continued health and productivity of their fishing grounds.
Larger fishing vessels (seen in the backdrop) often use industrial methods to catch fish. The boats, called trawlers, drag large nets known as trawls behind them. There are bottom trawls for fish near the seabed and midwater trawls for fish in the middle of the water column. Trawlers capture large quantities of fish, including shrimp, mackerel, and anchovies.
The ebb and flow of tides, along with the changing seasons when certain types of fish are available, dictate the catch. Most fishermen use vertical nets, called gill nets, that trap fish by their gills. After laying the nets, the boats wait for four to five hours before hauling them back on board.
Flags are floated on the surface as visual markers to indicate the location of the submerged net. Fishermen typically cast three to four nets within close range of the boat.
The waters off the coast of Mumbai, located in the Arabian Sea, are rich in marine biodiversity and support a diverse range of fish species. Some of the various types of fish commonly caught in these waters include the Kingfish, also known as surmai, mackerel (bangda), pomfret (paplet), Bombay duck (bombil), sardines (tarli), red snapper (rane), cuttlefish (kanphoda), and prawns (jhinga). Exotic species, like sharks, tuna, lobsters, squids, and oysters, are also sold at the markets.
Koli fishermen venture to sea when it is still dark, usually around 5 am, taking advantage of the high tide and reaching their netting points before sunrise. The tide plays a crucial role as fewer fish are caught during low tide, while high tide brings an abundant catch.
A Koli man makes his way to a Ganapati shrine, walking over a causeway that is accessible only during low tide. During high tide, the shrine goes underwater, and its location is marked only by the flags sticking out from the surface.
Fishing boats must be registered with the relevant maritime authorities, such as the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) or the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD). Additionally, boat owners and operators may need to obtain licenses or permits to operate their vessels legally. These licenses may include fishing permits, vessel registration certificates, and crew licenses.
Along with the target fish, the nets also end up with bycatch. Jellyfish are a common bycatch and are removed from the nets immediately because they have a poisonous sting.
On the open sea, fishermen are guided by LED lights placed on buoys that indicate the presence of a net. The lights also serve to designate areas where nets have already been deployed so that others do not place nets in the vicinity.