Fisherfolk and football: An ethnographic tale of loss in a changing climate

Abstract

Sea level rise is dramatically altering the daily lives of fisherfolk in the Ottummal coastal region of Malabar, India. This article draws on ethnographic fieldwork to explore the erosion of subaerial beaches, which have traditionally served as vital social and cultural touchstones for the community. It examines the profound impact of this erosion on the community's leisure activities, particularly their beloved pastime of football. It also analyses the local government's proposed strategy of managed retreat, which involves relocating vulnerable communities away from threatened areas. It considers its limitations in light of the fisherfolk's deep emotional and cultural connections with their lands and non‐material culture. The article posits that while climatologists and satellites can give a bird's eye view, anthropologists and ethnographers can give a worm's eye view of climate change.