Mumbai’s Koli fisherfolk fight for their future

India’s historic Koli fishing community is facing a turning point as climate change, shrinking fish stocks and shifting markets reshape life along Mumbai’s coast. At the traditional Sassoon Dock, generations have relied on instinct and experience, but falling catches, rising prices and long‑standing middlemen have made survival harder.

Across the bay, the newer Karanja port offers fair pricing, transparency and digital tools that give fisherfolk control over their trade. Yet as unpredictable seas force boats farther out and work becomes scarce, both harbors reveal a community fighting to preserve its identity while adapting to a changing ocean.