The MSC ELSA 3 shipwreck has left Kerala’s coastal fishing communities in deep financial and emotional turmoil, according to a new report by Greenpeace India, prepared in collaboration with Karumkulam panchayat and the Coastal Students Cultural Forum.
The report reveals that the wreck has crippled fishing activity in the affected areas, pushing many fishers into mounting debt and severe economic hardship. With boats unable to operate freely, incomes have plunged, leaving thousands of families uncertain about their future.
Beyond financial losses, the crisis has also sparked mental distress among fishers, many of whom struggle to repay loans taken for boats, nets, and household needs. Community leaders warn that the absence of immediate relief or compensation has only deepened the crisis.
Greenpeace India has urged authorities to act swiftly — by removing the wreck, providing financial assistance to affected families, and strengthening preventive measures against such industrial accidents.
The findings highlight the fragile state of Kerala’s coastal communities, who already face the twin pressures of climate change and recurring maritime disasters.
