Boat building at Malpe in Udupi District of Karnataka - an alternatelivelihood option

An attempt was made to survey the boat builders of Malpe Fisheries Harbour and to analyse how boat building forms an alternate source of income generation and livelihood. There are two boat building yards at Malpe, one near Malpe Fisheries Harbour and another at Angarkatte, 5 km from Malpe. The boat-building yard at Malpe is 35 years old and the technology of boat building is a traditional profession and is the monopoly of the Aachari community.