Understanding how coastal communities live between the ocean and the city.
Research Overview
Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of Kerala, situated on the southern coast of the Arabian Sea. Fishing settlements along its shores face pressures from coastal erosion, flooding, and rapid urban growth. The sites of Poonthura and Perumathura capture how communities negotiate livelihoods, vulnerability, and resilience on the city’s shifting coastline.
Poonthura is one of Thiruvananthapuram’s oldest fishing settlements, built along the shoreline where the sea frequently enters homes and lanes. Families depend on small-scale fishing, daily wage work, and informal trade. Dense housing, narrow lanes, and exposed location make the community highly vulnerable to seasonal tides and storms, yet it remains a vibrant centre of coastal life.
Photo Documentation
Research Documents
Maps
Perumathura, at the northern edge of Thiruvananthapuram, is a growing fishing settlement at the mouth of the Vamanapuram river. The settlement faces constant challenges from coastal high tide and sand deposits. Families sustain themselves through fishing, fish vending, and wage labour, while balancing the risks of living between river and sea.
Photo Documentation
Research Documents
Maps
