The Kolis fishermen are the native inhabitants of the Mumbai area and they depend on fishing as their customary livelihood. Mumbai, of which Kolis are the natives, was initially a group of seven islands in the year 1800 and has gradually grown tremendously in its expanse and demographics.  Recently, this group of the original inhabitants of the city is being ignored by the authorities in terms of protection from coastal erosion and damage to the local marine environment. The coastal fishing villages in Mumbai have endured erosion of up to 18 meters in the last 10 years. The city’s coastal ecosystem depends on its intricate relationship with its mangroves.

Coastal forests which generally grow on coastal saline, or brackish water are known as Mangroves. In coastal regions like near Mumbai, the dominant mangrove species is the Avicennia marina. The mangroves are salt-tolerant trees also known as halophytes and are adapted to live in harsh coastal conditions. They generally have a mangrove typical root known as pneumatophores which help their roots breathe in the salty coastal regions flooded with tidal waters. These roots help them get adapted to the low oxygen condition of waterlogged mud.

Mangrove ecosystem can be up to 10 times more efficient than terrestrial ecosystems at absorbing and storing carbon on a long-term basis. This makes them a critical solution in the fight against climate change. Apart from this, mangrove also plays a major role in protecting the foundation of the city as a whole, since it replete with varieties of fishes and marine fauna making an important source of livelihood for the coastal community.

With a significant growth of population, there is an ever-growing demand for space to live in. Unfortunately, the mangrove areas were generally the first to be destroyed for real estate development. Over 40% of the city’s original mangrove cover has been eradicated. The change or rather reduction in the area of mangrove belonging to Mumbai suburban region for a period of 11 years from 1990 to 2001 reveals that a total area of 36 Sq.Km was lost. This amount of area amounts to 39.32% decrease in the area under the mangrove. There was a total loss of 44.28 Sq. Km(-58.98%)   in the mangroves area.

Stalin D, an environmentalist has pointed out that the major sites with the mangroves cover are getting destroyed at an alarming rate. Mangrove cover along Mahul is getting wiped out as the tides are blocked. Mangroves generally act as a kitchen of the ocean. This is one of the places where food in the oceanic ecosystem is produced and gets spread across the globe. The pivotal role that mangrove plays in Mumbai’s ecosystem was recognized by the Bombay high court and an order was also passed to form Mangrove Cell in 2012. Maharashtra became the only state in India to have a devoted Mangrove Cell.

Currently, mangroves are being preserved with ground surveillance and a special force of 120 personnel is deployed and distributed to take care of mangroves in Mumbai. There are now only 11 true species of mangroves left in Mumbai. Forest conservation Act had required that for every mangrove tree removed the government needs to plant three more trees and that compensation has to be given to the Mangrove foundation.

Earlier, in the coastal areas of Mumbai, there was plenty of density and diversity of mangroves. Currently, only a few patches are found in Mahim and Gorai Creek, the coastal regions of Sewri, Colaba, Versova, and Bandra. Appreciable expanses of mangrove patches are present in Uran, Vasai, Vashi, Thane, and Bhayander creeks. The fishermen prominently from the Kolis’ tribes use small ponds for fishing in the Bhandup region.

Koliwada, the various fish markets spread across Mumbai and run by Kolis, depend on fishing in the mangroves for their livelihood. During the Monsoon season when Kolis and other fishermen cannot venture out and fish in the sea, fishes from the man-made Koli fishing ponds are sold in other Koliwadas. Generally in the Kolis’ community, the men are responsible for fishing while women sell the catch. The fishermen go to the ponds every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to clean the ponds and catch fish. This catch is then sold to women at the market, who sell them at the fish markets.

Over the recent years, insensitive development and urbanization have degraded the health and quality of mangroves, making it difficult for the Kolis to use and maintain mangrove forests near the Mithi River. The practice and connection with the mangroves and fishing would be traditionally passed down generations on many occasions. Although some of the younger generations are interested in this traditional practice and want to continue it, the degradation of the mangroves and ponds is making it difficult to sustain solely on fishing. The young Kolis are taking up other full-time jobs to sustain their households. And with increasing marginalization of Kolis away from the glitz and glamour of hustling Mumbai, the local environmental health and a community based local source of food are getting gradually nearer to extinction.

The author is a student member of Amity Centre of Happiness.