The Canary in the Coal Mine: Understanding Climate Change through the Indigenous Language of Sea Attacks in Kochi’s Urban Fisher Communities

In the context of climate change, the urban-ocean interface demands greater attention in urban and marine spatial planning. Although fisher communities remain integral to these spaces, they are overlooked in climate change discourse, which tends to focus on catastrophic events rather than the slow, everyday impacts they experience. Additionally, technical and scientific expertise is prioritised over local indigenous knowledge of the oceans.

This paper examines urban fisher communities of Kochi, India, exploring how they articulate climate change through their lived experiences. Rather than adopting the language of scientific discourse, these communities describe gradual changes in the environment, such as hotter summers, variable rainfall, and increased “sea attacks”—giant waves that disrupt fishing, damage homes, and force greater reliance on debt. These observations offer valuable insights into how marginalised communities understand and informally cope with climate change.

The research asks: How do these fisher communities describe their experiences of climate change, and how can this inform broader urban policy discussions? Using ethnographic fieldwork and oral history interviews conducted from 2022 to 2024, this study focuses on women's narratives from fisher communities in Kochi. Their stories, passed down through generations, serve as both personal histories and early warnings of climate change. These narratives not only provide a unique perspective on climate change but also offer a hopeful potential to inform and shape future terrestrial and marine spatial planning.

By recognizing the unique language and knowledge of these communities, this paper argues that local governments can significantly enhance early warning systems and implement more inclusive planning strategies. This approach not only underscores the need to integrate marginalised voices into climate policy and marine spatial planning but also enlightens us about the potential benefits of doing so, ensuring a socially just response to the ongoing impacts of environmental change.