The historic port city where trawlers are transforming the lives of fisherfolk.
Research Overview
Kozhikode, Kerala’s historic port city on the Malabar coast, has long been tied to fishing, shipbuilding, and maritime trade. Its shoreline communities continue to sustain themselves through coastal livelihoods, while contending with erosion, flooding, and infrastructural strain. The sites of Beypore and Puthiyappa highlight how historic work traditions and dense fishing settlements shape life in risk-prone coastal zones.
Crowded fishing harbour settlement shaped by daily labour and risk
Puthiyappa, near Kozhikode beach, is a dense fishing harbour where hundreds of families depend on small-scale fishing and fish vending. Crowded lanes, wet sandy ground, and constant movement define the settlement, as residents balance precarious housing and livelihoods along the city’s central shore.
Photo Documentation
Research Documents
Maps
Historic port settlement sustained by fishing and boat-building
Beypore, at the city’s southern edge, is known for its centuries-old shipbuilding and fishing activities. Families depend on fishing, vending, and small-scale marine trade, with homes built close to the shore. Seasonal flooding and erosion disrupt daily life, yet Beypore remains a hub of coastal livelihoods and identity.
Photo Documentation
Research Documents
Maps
