Community-based environmental education in the fishing villages of Tuticorin and its role in conservation of the environment

Oct 15, 2026

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Community-based environmental education in Tuticorin’s fishing villages addresses coral reef and seagrass conservation while supporting sustainable livelihoods under pressure from destructive fishing practices. The study describes adult environmental learning introduced in five villages in 2007, covering conservation, management needs, eco-friendly fishing methods, and sustainable use of fishery resources. It highlights awareness creation roles of trained fisher folk and the 2008 reef-focused campaign, including plantation efforts tied to climate-change mitigation and income generation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Gulf of Mannar Marine context

Tuticorin coast challenges

Adult environmental education program (2007)

Awareness creation and campaign support (2008)

Australian Journal of Adult Learning Community-based environmental education in the fishing villages of Tuticorin 383 Volume 49, Number 2, July 2009 RESEARCH REPORT Community-based environmental education in the fishing villages of Tuticorin and its role in conservation of the environment Jamila Patterson Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, India Eva Lindén Nyköpings Folkhöskola, Stockholm, Sweden J. K. Patterson Edward Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, India Dan Wilhelmsson Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Sweden Inger Löfgren Lagman Linds v. 4A, 18279 Stocksund, Sweden The coastal town of Tuticorin is situated in the southern part of the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park on the Southeastern Indian coast. The four islands off the Tuticorin coast are fringed by corals reefs and seagrass beds. Destructive fishing methods including blast fishing, near-shore trawling, coral mining, sedimentation and pollution have, however, caused considerable damage to the coral reefs and seagrass beds, threatening the reeffisheries of the region. A significant portion of the fisher folk in the 23 coastal villages along the Tuticorin coast, due to low literacy levels and lack of other employment, is dependent on the dwindling fish catches in and around these reefs and seagrass beds. Crowded fishing grounds, increasing demand for fisheries’ products and declining catches compel fishers to increase the use of more effective and destructive fishing methods. Adult education was introduced in five coastal villages (Rajapalayam, Siluvaipatti, Arockiyapuram, Tirespuramand Inigo Nagar) on the Tuticorin coast in 2007. Included in this adult education, environmental education practices, including conservation of natural resources, particularly coral reefs and seagrass habitats, its importance and role, the need for conservation and management, eco-friendly fishing practices and sustainable use offishery resources, were taught to the fisher folk in all five coastal villages. The trained fisher folk play key roles in their respective villages in awareness creation about the conservation of natural resources. The campaign during International Year of the Reef in 2008 helped to make aware many people in the villages about the importance of corals and associated seagrass and other resources. As apart of mitigating climate change impacts and income generation, family members of the five villages were also taught and helped to increase plantation. Introduction The Gulf of Mannar (GoM) is one of the four major reef areas in India. The GoM is located at the southeastern coastal tip of India in the Tamil Nadu State, extending from Rameswaram in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. The 140 km GoM stretch, extending from Rameswaram to Tuticorin located between latitude 8o47’N and 9o15 N and longitude 78o12’ E and 79o14’ E, includes 21 uninhabited islands which are surrounded by coral reefs and seagrasses. 384 Jamila Patterson, Eva Lindén J. K. Patterson Edward, Community-based environmental education in the fishing villages of Tuticorin 385 Dan Wilhelmsson and Inger Löfgren In September 1986, the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park was declared, including all the 21 islands and the surrounding shallow coastal waters, covering an area of 560 square kilometers. The islands are grouped into four for management purposes, namely, Mandapam, Keezhakkarai, Vambar and Tuticorin groups. In 1989, the GoM was declared by the Government of India as a ‘Marine Biosphere Reserve’, covering an area of 10,500 square kilometers from Rameswaram to Kanyakumari. The GoM is influenced by seasonal monsoonal patterns – a southwest monsoon and a northeast monsoon. Narrow fringe reefs are located mostly at a distance of 100–350 meters from the islands at a depth between 0.5–4 meters, and patch reefs rise from depths of 2 to 9 meters and extend up to 1–2 kilometers in length, with width as much as 50

FAQs

What environmental problems in Tuticorin motivate the education program?

Destructive fishing methods and related development activities have damaged coral reefs and seagrass beds, threatening reef fisheries and local livelihoods.

How was adult environmental education implemented in the fishing villages?

Adult education was introduced in five coastal villages in 2007, teaching conservation of natural resources, the need for management, eco-friendly fishing practices, and sustainable use of fishery resources.

What role did trained fisher folk and the 2008 reef campaign play?

Trained fisher folk helped create village awareness about conserving natural resources, and the International Year of the Reef campaign in 2008 increased understanding of corals, associated seagrass, and other resources.

Oct 15, 2026

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