If you walk through the beaches of Nattika, you can see remnants of old buildings—these buildings are Chappas, the old fish drying units. Chappas were once the base of the dried fish industry in coastal Kerala. Even the names of some coastal villages have originated from the term Chappa, such as Chappakadavu, Puthiyachappa, and Pazhayachappa. Now, only these ruins and names remain.
Before the 1950s, traditional fishermen caught fish only for daily needs and the local market, due to the lack of ice preservation provisions. Drying and salting were the only ways to preserve surplus fish. This was an important livelihood for the traditional fisher community, especially women. Because this was one of the few jobs that were available for women at that time. Mackerel, ribbon fish, lizardfish, sole, moonfish, pony fish, croakers, glassfish, Malabar thryssa, sharks, and many other fishes were dried in the chappas and sent to various places. The ‘chemeen parippu’, in particular, made by boiling and drying shrimp, was famous.
This vast sandy “Nattika” beach was suitable for drying fish due to the consistent supply of fresh catch brought in by traditional fishing vessels. The introduction of ice for preserving fish opened up significant possibilities for storing and transporting raw fish, creating new markets and opportunities for fishers. Consequently, the dried fish sector was overshadowed by the rise of ice factories and other jobs. The shift from beaches to large harbours led to decreased fish availability in chappas, causing them to cease operations and prompt workers to seek new employment opportunities.
Most of the dried fish units are now operating from Chettuva Harbour. Dried fish workers rely on fish from outside markets because the quantity and diversity of catch has decreased But Kerala, a leading Indian state in daily fish consumption, still has a strong market for quality dried fish.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Nattika Fisheries School (NFS) Museum for granting us access to their collection of old photographs.
Yadukrishna and Akhila George are Fellows at the Coexistence Consortium. With postgraduate degrees in Marine Biology, they focus on documenting the traditional knowledge and practices of fisherfolk in Kerala. Their work aims to highlight the rich cultural heritage of coastal communities.