Photo essay: The seasonal fishermen of Nanakmatta

Pradeep Sana (45), along with his 20 fishermen friends, come to Nanakmatta every summer to fish in the dried lands near Uttarakhand’s Nanaksagar Dam. “I’ve come 30 kilometers away from my home only to fish. It’s very difficult to live here with many mosquitoes and without light or electricity. We have to use our bike batteries to give us lighting at night,” said Pradeep. (Photo by Prakash Chand)

They gather bamboo, wood and straw  from around the dam to build their makeshift huts. It only take them a day to construct, but the huts are not surprisingly vulnerable against strong wind and rain. (Photo by Prakash Chand)

The migrating fishermen use different methods of fishing to maximize their catch – from fixing large nets in water bodies to making a bund (embankment) in areas where the speed of water is fast which is useful for catching smaller fish. (Photo by Prakash Chand)

Using mechanical equipment to help catch fish is most effective. With a generator, water is released on one side to leave mud where the fish get stuck and so are more easy to catch. This helps them catch the most fish and earn the maximum amount possible. (Photo by Prakash Chand)

“Our life is full of struggle. Soon after arriving, we end up spending 70-80 thousand rupees on generators, fuel, nets and other essentials. And then our contractor doesn’t pay sometimes until 10 to 15 days later,” said Pradeep. (Photo by Prakash Chand)

This seasonal fishing is a hard life.  But the men also feel a sense of adventure and accomplishment, earning a livelihood for their families. “Fish are everywhere, but the fun we have in Nanakmatta is something else,” said Pradeep. (Photo by Prakash Chand)