Coastal Food & Fisheries

This program examines coastal food systems at the intersection of ecology, labor, culture, and global trade. Students begin with foundational seminars on marine ecology, fisheries economics, and food anthropology before moving into landing sites, processing units, and seafood markets to trace the journey from ocean to export.

Through structured observation, cold-chain mapping labs, climate vulnerability analysis, and guided dialogues with fishers, cooperatives, marine scientists, and sustainability advocates, students explore how environmental pressures reshape livelihoods and identity.

The program culminates in a Coastal Food Systems Portfolio or Sustainability Proposal grounded in field evidence.

Students will:

Map fisheries supply chains from capture to distribution.
Analyze ecological constraints and sustainability trade-offs.
Interpret food identity and labor systems ethnographically.
Evaluate the impact of climate variability on coastal livelihoods.
Produce a systems-based fisheries dossier or policy proposal.

Anthropology

Food Studies

Economics

Marine Biology

Sustainability

Political Economy

Kochi

Coastal Landing Sites

Fish Markets

Processing Contexts

Coastal Villages

Day	Location	Academic Engagement	Learning Emphasis
1	Kochi	Arrival; seminar: Food as ecological and economic system	Framing inquiry
2	Kochi	Seminar: Marine ecosystems & fisheries economics; guest marine researcher	Ecology–economy interface
3	Kochi	Workshop: Interview ethics & field methods in livelihood contexts	Research integrity
4	Coastal Landing Site	Early-morning landing observation; supply chain tracing	Production systems
5	Coastal Village	Dialogue with fishers’ cooperative; labor and pricing structures	Livelihood analysis
6	Kochi	Cold-chain mapping lab; storage and spoilage case study	Infrastructure literacy
7	Kochi	Seafood market ethnography; gender and labor mapping	Market culture
8	Coastal Context	Climate vulnerability session; adaptation strategies workshop	Resilience framing
9	Kochi	Export and global seafood trade seminar; policy discussion	Political economy
10	Kochi	Sustainability lab: biodiversity, regulation, and governance trade-offs	Environmental systems
11	Kochi	Portfolio/proposal studio I	Translating field data
12	Kochi	Peer critique; revision workshop	Academic rigor
13	Kochi	Final presentations; departures	Integration