It would be more than a figure of speech to say that the fisheries sector has been hit by a tsunami’. It will take a long time for them to recover, considering the extent of damage sustained, says a senior fisheries scientist in Kochi describing the impact of Cyclone Ockhi that has left behind a trail of destruction. More than the damage to marine resources, the cyclonic developments have wreaked serious financial havoc and left a deep scar on the psyche of the fishing community, says Charles George of Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedhi, representing the traditional fishing community that has been at the receiving end of frequent natural calamities. According to the Aikya Vedhi estimates, which has been despatched for the State government’s consideration, more than a hundred gill net liners operated by fishermen from Poonthura that ventured off Kochi ahead of the cylone had not been traced. Of the total 610 liners, 217 ventured out and 102 had landed at different places geographically ranging from Veravel in Gujarat to Malpe in Karnataka with Sindhudurg and Karwar in between. He says the belief that the Kerala coast was relatively safe for fishing operations has been shattered. The fallout of climate change, first visible in the virtual disappearance of oil sardines from off the coast of Kerala even in cool climes, is now visible in a more violent manner in the way Cyclone Ockhi unfolded. He has called for short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to revive the marine fisheries sector. Immediate relief in the form of free rations, medium-term measures to rehabilitate fishermen and long-term measures to secure the safety of fishermen are needed. The marine fishing sector need to be reorganised on a long-term basis for its sustainability and safety of the fishermen, he said. Looking at places close to Kochi, Chellanam is an example that stands out. Initial assessment says that around 3,200 houses face waterlogging and around 2,200 houses have their septic tanks damaged in Chellanam. Fishermen’s homes and equipment have been damaged extensively in Edavanakkad, Njarakkal, Puthuvype, Kannamaly, Saudi, Guduparambu, and Maruvakkadu too. Damage to houses and fishing equipment apart, drinking water sources have been blocked in many of the coastal panchayats, says Mr. George. Directly on the fishing front, an initial estimate by the Fisheries Department says that 75 fishing boats and 200 fishing nets were lost or seriously damaged in incidents related to the cyclone. Shaji George of Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council says the official machinery floundered while the fishermen were at the receiving end of the natural calamity.