Bioluminescence seen at Kumbalangi | Photo credit: Vivek Uday
In Kochi, currently all roads lead to Kumbalangi. The postcard-pretty fishing village, about 15 km from Ernakulam, is hosting a natural neon party. Vast stretches of shrimp farms lined up along the backwaters are shimmering in bioluminescence, a phenomenon that makes it glow in electric blue and fluorescent green at night.
It is 11 pm in Chellanam, another fishing village near Kumbalangi, and it is full of people armed with long sticks and mobile phones. Some disturb the surface of the water with sticks, some splash in the water and some even dive into it, leaving a trail of luminescent waves behind them, capturing it all on camera for their Instagram feed.
Known as ‘kavaru’ in Malayalam, the phenomenon has been going on for the past few weeks, making it a busy time for Kumbalangi and surrounding areas, with people from Kerala and outside coming to witness the glittering water. Are. Once you reach Kumbalangi ask for directions and people immediately ask: “Are you going to see this Kawaru,
Bioluminescence at Kumbalangi | Photo credit: Vivek Uday
Popularized by Instagrammers, locals say crowds have increased this year – some unofficially put the number of visitors at half a million. One of the biggest hits of Malayalam cinema, Kumbalangi Nights (2019), In which bioluminescent water is visible, has also contributed to this sudden excitement.
However, this is not unusual for the locals. “We have seen all this during our growing years. In summer when we take the country boat out into the water at night and cast the net, the water lights up from within, as if there are a hundred light bulbs inside. That scene of remember life of Pi , It was pretty much the same,” says Jayaraj NM, who runs a small business and lives on Karithara island, which has only nine houses.
“Usually, the bioluminescence disappears with the first rain of the season. This year, we haven’t had the summer rains, which is probably why we still see it,” he adds.
algal bloom
According to an official at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, the phenomenon is caused by dinoflagellate algae ( gymnodinium sp.), which have luminescent properties. Any movement on the surface of the water – waves, sudden surges, fish swimming, or disturbances on the water surface can trigger luminescence.
A combination of environmental factors leads to the multiplication of algae in a particular area. Algae grow rapidly due to nutrient-rich water, favorable temperature and salinity. Changes in wind and current patterns, nutrient levels or any other factors in the water can alter the multiplication of algae.
Kumbalangi – India’s first eco-tourism village – has been successful in harnessing its tourism potential for the welfare of the local community dependent on fishing and allied activities.
“We get a good crowd on weekends, but this ‘kawaru’ season the numbers have gone up manifold. The area turns to watch Chinese fishing nets in the evenings, says Baiju Vijayan, one of the partners of OMKV Food Village. The people coming and staying for hours to watch ‘Kavaru’, which serves seafood and other local delicacies in Kumbalangi, has hit the headlines.
However, the influx of ‘tourists’ is raising concerns among prawn farmers in Kumbalangi. Local fish farmers say that in the excitement of seeing the glow, people are throwing stones, pieces of wood, which will affect the shrimp in their farms.