In the past, building fishing boats was an intricate and time-consuming craft, requiring great skill and patience. Boats were traditionally made from wood, with old mango trees commonly used for dugout canoes and plank-built boats. The design of these boats varied along India’s diverse coastline, adapting to the wave action and shore type, whether sandy, rocky, or muddy. For centuries, traditional fishing crafts like catamarans, dugout canoes, and machvas dominated the waters, until mechanization began to take hold in the mid-20th century. Early efforts to modernize the fishing industry, such as Travancore state’s provision of wood for boat construction in 1938 and the Indo-Norwegian Project, introduced motors and later mechanized boats with engines inside the hull. Over time, materials like steel, aluminum, fiberglass-reinforced plastics, and ferrocement replaced wood, offering greater durability and reduced maintenance. 

Today, in places like the Muduga fishing harbor in Karnataka, the dismantling of old wooden boats has become a rare and labor-intensive business. This operation, led by local entrepreneur Mr. Parashurama, involves acquiring these aging boats from competitive auctions, particularly those from Mangalore and Malpe, where steel boats have now taken over. Wooden boats are prone to damage from physical contact with steel boats, prompting fishermen in Uttara Kannada to bring them to their harbors, where wooden boats are still preferred. Dismantling these boats is no easy task, as it requires transporting them from the harbor to the scrapyard. Workers salvage reusable parts like engines and equipment, while the wood is repurposed as fuel. The boats, often over two decades old, are a testament to a bygone era, with unique features like manual grinding stones for onboard cooking, smaller wheelhouses, distinctive derricks, masts, and winches. These boats also required a level of skill and craftsmanship to operate, which modern technology has largely replaced. 

Standing in a scrapyard surrounded by the remnants of these wooden boats feels like stepping back into a different time. The transformation of the fishing industry, while inevitable, has overshadowed the craftsmanship and traditions that once defined it. The disappearance of these wooden boats not only marks the end of an era but also signals the loss of the skills and stories of generations who thrived on their craftsmanship. As steel and fiberglass boats dominate the seas, the sight of wooden boats being dismantled serves as a powerful reminder of the fishing industry’s rich history and the resilience of the people who shaped it. 

Prashanth Ramappa is a researcher who cares deeply about protecting coastal ecosystems and the Western Ghats. With a Master’s in Fisheries Resource and Management, he works to find sustainable ways to support both nature and communities.