MSC ELSA 3 shipwreck pushes fishers into debt, distress, says Greenpeace India report

Around four-and-half months after the MSC ELSA 3 sank off the coast of Kerala posing serious environmental and livelihood damages, the Greenpeace India has released a report titled ‘Wrecked Futures: The Hidden Socio-Economic Burden of the MSC ELSA 3 Disaster’ highlighting how the MSC ELSA 3 shipwreck has severely impacted coastal fishing communities in Kerala, especially in Pulluvila village, pushing families into deep financial distress.

The report prepared in collaboration with Karumkulam panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram and the Coastal Students Cultural Forum (CSCF) reveals that the aftermath of the shipwreck saw women fish vendors losing their incomes, boats and nets being damaged, and many households being trapped in debt cycles. The findings in the report also paint a stark picture of economic disruption, social distress, and long-term vulnerability, coinciding with recent legal developments that show a wide gap between community losses and the compensation that may ultimately be awarded.

According to the report, the average fishing household in Pulluvila has lost between ₹25,000-₹35,000 per month since the incident, in a community where more than 80% of families had no savings to fall back on. Of the 12 wards that were surveyed, 96% of people are directly tied to fishing, whether as boat owners, wage workers, or fish sellers.

Testimonies of the fishermen reveal that the plastic nurdles released from the wreckage have disrupted fish colonies, apart from damaging nets and boat engines, and forcing the fishermen to take longer travel routes, inflating daily operational costs. With nets costing around ₹25,000 each and recovery expenses exceeding ₹1 lakh in some cases, many families face debts they are not able to repay. During the study, women fish vendors who used to earn at least ₹3,000 a day in net profits reported being unable to sell their catch due to consumer fears about contamination, the report says.

“This is not just about one village, but a peek into the realities of coastal villages across the impacted region. This is about corporate negligence and evasion of accountability by MSC. They should not be allowed to undercut the compensation by using loopholes in the legal and policy system. Any settlement that does not reflect real losses will amount to injustice for Kerala’s coastal families,” said Amruta S.N., climate campaigner at Greenpeace India.

With court proceedings on compensation set to begin soon, the report calls for urgent interim relief to affected households, alongside debt support, subsidies for repairing nets and boats, and educational assistance for children. It stresses that while legal battles may continue, fishing communities cannot afford to wait for basic survival support.