Executive Summary:
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 357, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying addresses the fisheries crisis in Kerala following the MSC ELSA 3 and MV Wan Hai 503 incidents in May-June 2025. The government details the actions taken by the Kerala government, including advisories, ecological impact assessments, and financial assistance to affected fisherfolk. The response also addresses the reported marine mammal carcasses found ashore and the actions taken.
Key Points / Main Content:
Vessel Incidents:
* MSC ELSA 3 shipwreck occurred on May 24-25, 2025, approximately 39 nautical miles south of Kochi.
* MV Wan Hai 503 incident happened on June 9, 2025, approximately 130 nautical miles northwest of Kochi.
Government Actions (Kerala):
* Issued advisories on May 25, 2025, instructing fishermen not to venture within a 20 nautical mile radius of the MSC ELSA 3 site.
* Convened a high-level meeting on May 28, 2025, with scientists and fishermen to discuss ecological impact and protection measures.
* Constituted a Joint Coordination Committee on June 19, 2025, to review the scenario and conduct water and fish sampling/testing.
Water and Fish Sample Analysis:
* Test reports indicated fish samples were in good condition with no objectionable qualities.
* Water samples showed normal pH, salinity, and conductivity levels.
* Preliminary analysis found no traces of oil content or hazardous chemicals; fish samples from Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kollam coasts were safe for consumption.
Financial Assistance:
* Estimated income loss of ₹106.51 crore affected 1,60,417 fisherfolk and allied workers in Ernakulum, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
* ₹1000 per family interim relief provided to 1,05,518 marine fishermen families from the SDRF, along with 6 kg of rice per family.
Marine Mammal Carcasses:
* One dolphin carcass washed ashore in Alappuzha during the last week of May 2025.
* Three more dolphin carcasses and one whale carcass washed ashore in Alappuzha during June 2025.
* Autopsies were conducted, and the carcasses were buried under the supervision of the Forest Department.
* One deteriorated whale carcass could not be towed ashore due to weather conditions.
* No specific study was conducted by the Government of Kerala as marine mammals fall under the purview of the Forest Department.
Impact Analysis:
Fishermen and Allied Workers:
* Impact: Loss of income due to fishing bans and potential resource contamination.
* Action Required: Adhere to fishing advisories and utilize provided financial assistance.
Kerala State Government (Disaster Management Department, Fisheries Department, Forest Department, State Pollution Control Board, Food Safety, National Health Mission, and Coastal Police):
* Impact: Required to assess ecological damage, provide support to affected communities, and manage potential health risks.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring water and fish quality, provide ongoing support to affected fishermen, and coordinate with relevant agencies.
ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) and ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI):
* Impact: Involved in assessing the ecological impact and providing scientific expertise.
* Action Required: Continue to provide scientific support and expertise in assessing and mitigating the impact of the incidents on fisheries resources.
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS):
* Impact: Involved in assessing the ecological impact and providing scientific expertise.
* Action Required: Continue to provide scientific support and expertise in assessing and mitigating the impact of the incidents on fisheries resources.
Key Entities Referenced
Kerala: State in India, location of the fisheries crisis.
MSC ELSA 3: Cargo vessel involved in a shipwreck off the coast of Kerala.
MV Wan Hai 503: Container ship involved in an incident off the coast of Kerala.
ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT): Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, involved in assessing the ecological impact of the shipwrecks.
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI): Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, involved in assessing the ecological impact of the shipwrecks.
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS): University involved in assessing the ecological impact of the shipwrecks.
Alappuzha: District in Kerala where marine mammal carcasses washed ashore.
Disaster Management Department of Kerala State: Department of Kerala which issued advisories to fishermen following the MSC ELSA 3 shipwreck.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 357
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22TH JULY, 2025
Fisheries Crisis in Kerala
357. Shri K C Venugopal:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fisheries crisis along the coast of Kerala,
following accidents involving the cargo vessel MSC ELSA 3 and the container ship MV
Wan Hai 503, if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
(b) the estimated loss of damage for the fishermen due to these accidents, including the
loss of fishing gears and loss of livelihood for considerable number of days;
(c) whether the Government proposes to provide any sort of compensation for the loss of
livelihood to the fishermen due to the accidents; and
(d) whether it is in the notice of the Government the fact that six marine mammal
carcasses–four dolphins and two whales have washed ashore on the Alappuzha coast,
and if so, whether the Government has carried out any study in this regard and if so, the
details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)
(a) : The cargo vessel MSC ELSA 3 shipwreck occurred on 24-25 May 2025, approximately
39 nautical miles (Nm) south off Kochi, Kerala whereas the incident of MV Wan Hai 503
happened on 09th June 2025 at around 130 Nm North West of Kochi, Kerala. The
Government of Kerala has informed that, in connection with MSC ELSA 3, as an immediate
response, the Disaster Management Department of Kerala State had issued advisories to
the fishermen on 25th May, 2025, instructing fishermen not to venture within a 20 nautical
mile radius of the sunken vessel. The Government of Kerala informed that high-level meeting
was convened with the scientists of ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT),
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kerala University of Fisheries
and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and representatives of fishermen on 28th May, 2025 to discuss
the possible ecological impact and necessary actions to be taken for protection of fishery
resources and livelihood of fishermen. Accordingly, on 19.06.2025, a Joint Coordination
Committee was constituted by the State Government with representatives from KUFOS,
CMFRI, CIFT, State Pollution Control Board, Food safety, National Health Mission, and
Coastal Police to review the scenario and to conduct necessary sampling, testing of water,
and fish in accordance with the standard protocols. The test reports revealed that the fish
samples were all in good condition, and no objectionable smell or flavour was observed, and
the pH, Salinity and the conductivity of water samples were within the normal range. The
preliminary analysis of water and fish samples revealed that there were no trace or the
presence of oil content, no direct evidence to prove the presence of hazardous chemicals,
and that the fish samples from the coasts of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kollam, etc. were
safe for consumption.(b) & (c): The Government of Kerala has reported an estimated income loss of ₹106.51 crore,
affecting approximately 1,60,417 fisherfolk and allied workers across four coastal districts:
Ernakulum, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram because of the MSC ELSA 3
shipwreck and the associated ban on fishing in 20 Nm of the shipwreck zone. The
Government of Kerala has informed that financial assistance @Rs.1000/- per family as
interim relief was provided to 1,05,518 marine fishermen families (including 78,498 marine
fishermen families and 24,020 allied fishermen families) from the SDRF, along with 6 kg of
rice per family for compensating for their livelihood loss.
(d): As per information from Alappuzha district, carcass of one dolphin was washed ashore
during the last week of May 2025, and carcasses of another three dolphins and one whale
were washed ashore during June 2025. The Government of Kerala has informed that
carcasses of all four dolphins and one whale were buried following autopsies under the
supervision of officials from the Forest Department. The carcass of another whale, which was
highly deteriorated, could not be towed onto shore due to inclement weather and rough seas.
The Government of Kerala has further informed that they have not conducted any study in
this regard, as the matter related to marine mammals comes under the purview of the Forest
Department.
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