In Thiruvananthapuram’s rocky coastal belt, mussel harvesting peaks between September and February, pushing the shellfish from rocky shores into bustling city markets and restaurants. The mussels, harvested from Vizhinjam, Kovalam, Azhimala, Poonthura and Muthalappozhi, among other nearshore hamlets in the Keralam capital, fetch up to ₹15,000 in auctions, sustaining a community of divers whose livelihood depend on the sea and its seasonal bounty.