A day in Kasimedu Fish Market

An early morning

The first thing that hits me on entering was the strong fish stench. The second, yet another stench, this time of alcohol while ramming into some men in the massive crowd. Irrespective of it being a weekday or a weekend, Kasimedu fish market is buzzing with activity since 5 am and continues to be till early noon.

As soon as I enter with my camera I immediately become the center of attention. Some of them yell out loudly (obviously under the influence of alcohol, can’t really ignore the odor) demanding to take their photographs. I oblige and move on. Few people come up to me and politely enquire from which newspaper or media channel I am and the rest just stare. By the 3^rd day, they get accustomed to my presence.

I see a variety of fishes like sardines, pom-fret, seer fish, barracuda and crabs, prawns, red snapper, mackerel, squids hauled in by the fishermen from the trawlers to the shore in small boats and very narrow catamarans. Small fishes are taken to the market in baskets by carrying them and the larger ones are pulled by a rope or by transferring them in tricycles. I carefully tread as the whole area is covered with slime and decaying fishes and is wet due to melted ice. 

An early dawn

 “600! 600!” screams a man here. “500! 500!” screams a man there. Elsewhere someone finalizes a deal for Rs. 400/-. As soon as the fishes are brought in, the unorganized auction starts and ends within a couple of minutes! I see the auctioneers having bundles of 500 and 1000 rupee notes. 10’s 20’s and 50’s are a used as a mere change. They holler at me, pointing to their baskets asking if I would like to buy any fishes or prawns. I sheepishly reply no with a smile and move on rather than explain about what I am doing in a fish market being a vegetarian.

Networking at Kasimedu

Transaction of lakhs of rupees happening in a day, I feel like it’s a stock exchange market, the stocks being the sea creatures

You can see fishes of all sizes being hauled in different ways through using cranes, tricycles and sometimes even manually. It’s amazing to notice fishes ranging from 5 kg to 150 kgs weights. 

The fishes here are relatively less expensive compared to the other markets. Hence it attracts a lot of locals who come in to buy and end up with the best bargains. Even restaurants and hotels purchase or are supplied from here because of its lower price. It is definitely worth buying. I spot a foreigner bargaining with a fisherman for prawns. The fisherman signals Rs. 700/-. Negotiation happens. Deal doesn't work out in either one’s favor. And the foreigner moves on to buy from the next fisherman. Irrespective of language, business happens in the usual manner.

Old women waiting for someone to buy.

As I venture further, I can’t help but notice that there is absolutely no proper method for disposing the redundant fishes in a hygienic way and they are left to rot for days at a stretch. When I ask one of the women regarding this, she replies “Appadi daan ma”, meaning that is how it is. The place is soiled and unhygienic, obviously needing improvement in such facilities.

Ice transportation is another main activity that I see happening throughout the fish market. From big ice crushing machines to physically crushing it, blocks of ice are transported to the boats and the markets to ensure that fishes remain fresh till sold. The fishermen buy huge blocks of ice, crush them and stock them in the fishing hold of the boats which is where the caught fishes are stored till they bring them ashore.

Apart from the fishes and fishing related activities, these people make their own accessories like weaving baskets and making fishing nets and selling it in the neighborhood.

Small catches being removed from the fishing net

 Fishermen turn in for the day so they can continue with the next day.

Something smells fishy!

And of course, no fish market is complete without a cat! While leaving, I spotted this pet cat sitting in a shed beyond few women selling fishes. Quite unlike its character, it was not concerned about the fishes around it. Till I asked the lady how something like that is possible. And in a couple of minutes I got my answer. It is not possible.

This was my first experience in Kasimedu, in terms of visiting and shooting. My suggestion is go visit this place. Even if you don’t eat fish – this is still a place not to be missed!

A very different though enjoyable experience shooting in Kasimedu!

Kasimedu fishing harbour, located in the Royapuram area of Chennai, is one of the major fishing grounds for catching fishes. A retail fish market known as the Kasimedu Fish Market is within the harbour complex adjacent to the auction shed. The market sells a variety of fishes, prawns and crabs.