Fishermen rescue delays draw strong criticism from bishops

KOCHI, Kerala (Indian Catholic News) — The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council has condemned the state government over alleged negligence in rescuing fishermen, demanding urgent systems, trained personnel and modern equipment as coastal communities face growing fears during the monsoon.

“Showing negligence in rescue operations under the pretext that weather warnings were ignored is an unforgivable offence when accidents happen at sea,” the KCBC said in an August 7 statement.

The council said hundreds of thousands of people living along Kerala’s coast and relying on fishing for their livelihood are “living in fear during this monsoon season.”

Fishermen, whom the council called “Kerala’s own army,” had set aside their personal interests to conduct rescue operations during recent floods.

“However, adopting a go-slow approach when a crisis hits their own lives is inhumane,” the bishops said.

The council said it was “condemnable that there is no news even eight days after” a fisherman named Gautam met with an accident in Neendakara, a coastal fishing area in Kollam district and that there had been no progress in the search for Shijin, a fisherman missing in Muthalapozhi, Thiruvananthapuram district.

Demand for better rescue capacity

“Expertly trained personnel and adequate modern equipment must be urgently provided to the Coast Guard and coastal police stations,” said KCBC President Archbishop Varghese Chakkalakal of Calicut.

He also demanded that the services of local fishermen, who possess “deep knowledge of the sea,” be used in search and rescue operations.

According to figures released by the state Fisheries Minister’s office, 469 fishermen died and 160 went missing off the Kerala coast over the past 11 years.

From 2015-16 to 2025-26, 23,000 patrol operations and 5,072 sea rescue missions were conducted, while 47,773 fishermen were rescued, the data said.

During 2025-26, authorities conducted 2,107 patrol operations and 560 sea rescue missions, rescuing 6,556 fishermen. The figures recorded 55 deaths and three missing fishermen during the year.

Searches continue along Kerala coast

As of Aug. 7, search operations continued for three fishermen who have been missing since July 31, with boats, drones, helicopters and Coast Guard vessels reportedly involved.

Gautam Krishna, 26, went missing after a fishing boat capsized at Neendakara on July 31. His father, Radhakrishnan, 48, and grandfather, Rajeevan, 74, died in the accident.

The Vizhinjam Coastal Police were also searching for John Mathias, 54, who went missing in a separate boat accident off the Thiruvananthapuram coast. The search for Shijin, 32, who disappeared after a boat capsized off Muthalapozhi, is ongoing.

Full statements available: In original Malayalam and AI‑generated English translation.