PHOTOS: The precarious life of fisherfolk

In Chennai’s Kasimedu harbor, fisherfolk work around the clock with few protections, with “basket men” enduring some of the most physically punishing shifts. Workers start carrying fish baskets from boats to the auction house as early as 2 a.m., covering about a third of a mile one way and repeating the trip 40 to 50 times daily. Pavadairayan, 60, says each basket weighs roughly 35 pounds and that pay can be docked or fined if fish go missing. He earns about $5 a day, though he stays because the rest of the day is his. The harbor is overcrowded—built for fewer than 600 boats yet serving over 1,000—while stories also include smuggling, loss, and family tragedy.