Pulicat Lake, located on the Andhra Pradesh–Tamil Nadu border, is India’s second-largest brackish-water lagoon. Home to rich marine life and birds, it now faces grave threats. But women from local communities are leading the fight to save it.
Fishing is the main livelihood for tribal communities around the lake. But illegal worm poaching is damaging the ecosystem. Poachers dig craters in the lake to collect polychaete worms, disrupting the balance.
These worms are sold to fish farms for ₹4,000/kg. But the damage is deeper — the craters have caused injuries to fisherwomen and made the lake unsafe to work in.
Women Lead the Fight: With no official help, local women patrol the lakebanks, chase away poachers, and report violations — protecting their land, water, and livelihoods.
No men. No authorities. No funding. Just a determined group of women risking it all to defend what’s theirs.
What’s at stake? - Flamingos, pelicans, and storks - Diverse marine life - A 400-year-old fishing culture All depend on the health of Pulicat Lake.
Communities are also restoring mangroves — nature’s shield against erosion and breeding grounds for fish. They do it all by hand: digging trenches, planting saplings, and letting the tides nurture them.
Now, a new threat looms — the proposed Adani-Kattupalli port expansion. If approved, it could destroy the lake’s ecosystem, displace over 1,000 fishing families, and wipe out over 100 bird species.
Info source: Citizen Matters, BBC, and Her Circle Official