For Indian communities, fishmeal factories bring pollution, danger and protests
A proposed fishmeal plant in Cuncolim, India sparked local outrage, with officials warning of stench so severe it exceeds 'a normal human's capacity to endure.' Investigators found at least 30 Indian fishmeal plants committed environmental violations between 2018 and 2024, including dumping waste and using illegal timber, while sparking at least 18 instances of civil unrest including road blockades and clashes with police.
More than 285,000 people, including over 6,400 children, live within a mile of India's fishmeal plants as of 2025, exposed to toxic gases including trimethylamine, which a chemical industry body has flagged as carcinogenic. The industry generated $200 million in revenue in 2024 while fatal accidents, including deaths from asphyxiation and a boiler explosion that killed two workers, drew criminal charges against plant operators.
One company, Bismi Aquatic Products, told investigators a worker's 2021 death resulted from failing to follow safety protocols, while confirming it paid compensation to his family. The piece frames the toll as one borne disproportionately by residents nearest the plants, far from where the resulting seafood is eaten.
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