Sea erosion impact at Yermal, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka

Abstract

Sea or coastal erosion occurs mainly through the actions of currents and waves and results in the loss of naturally formed sea walls and sediment in some places and accretion in others There has been a dramatic increase in coastal erosion over the last two decades and is expected to continue as sea level rises and storm frequency and severity increases. Bada Yermal and Thenka Yermal in Dakshina Kannada are minor landing centers where Kairampani (Shore seine) canoes with the traditional nets and small entangling nets are operated. Fishing operation during this year was severely affected due to extensive sea erosion in the region where the wave breaker were totally washed off and the adjacent road was fully destroyed.