Fishing on Pondicherry Beach - A photo-diary

Hauling in the catch of the day is a morning ritual on Pondicherry Beach, and one worth watching

It was very early morning on Pondicherry beach. Fishermen leave for the sea around 3 am to spread their nets. They return to shore after leaving the spread net in the sea for 4-5 hours. Around 7.30 am, about 15 to 20 fishermen start pulling the net slowly. It was a slow, long process. They haul in the nets for 30-40 minutes. In the final stage of pulling, a few more fishermen will add their strength to the group. A large quantity of fish (smelt fish or anchovies, called Nethili in Tamil) weighing 150-200 kg are trapped. As soon as the net is opened, retail fish merchants arrive and start collecting the fish in their vessels.

 Fishermen return to the shore with the catch

 They slowly pull in the laden nets from the sea

 A fisherman on Pondicherry beach

 A larger crowd joins in as the catch is hauled ashore.

 Fish merchants from the retail market collect the fish as it the nets are opened.