Sun May 11 18:10:32 UTC 2025: ## Kanniyakumari Fishermen Protest Proposed Hydrocarbon Exploration Project

**Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, May 12, 2025** – Fishermen in Kanniyakumari district are vehemently opposing a proposed hydrocarbon exploration project in the Wadge Bank, a vital fishing ground off the coast of Cape Comorin. The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has invited bids for exploration across 27,154.80 sq km, encompassing a significant portion of this rich fishing area.

Fishermen’s associations from Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Ramanathapuram districts in Tamil Nadu, and parts of Kerala, fear the project will severely impact their livelihoods. They argue that while the project is planned 35 nautical miles offshore, the designated area is crucial for their fishing activities. Concerns are also raised about the potential ecological damage to this valuable littoral zone.

C. Berlin of Neithal Makkal Iyakkam criticized the lack of consultation with the local fishing community. He emphasized the disproportionate impact on small-scale fishers who would be forced to travel further to find fishing grounds. Justin Antony, president of the International Fishermen Development Trust, added that the Wadge Bank acts as a natural disaster barrier, and the project could weaken this protection.

The project has also drawn criticism from MLA S. Rajeshkumar, who stated that the Tamil Nadu government has not issued a no-objection certificate and that there was neither prior intimation nor a public hearing regarding the project. He urged the Centre to revoke the project.

A recent journal article from the University of Alaska Fairbanks highlighted the potential environmental damage from hydrocarbon exploration, including air and water pollution. Following a meeting on Sunday, fishermen’s associations plan to submit a memorandum to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and organize future protests. The situation remains tense as the fishing community fights to protect its livelihoods and the environment.

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