Abstract

 Indian coastline is a crucial natural resource and important economic asset which extends around 7500 km and nurtures vast human population. Indian coastline is primarily dichotomized into east and west coastline. India’s east coastline covers West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and west coastline encompasses Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.

Owing to rich coastal biodiversity, people are involved in fishing, agriculture and other economic activities so as to fulfil their daily-life necessities. A strong and elaborate sexual division of labour prevails in most fishing communities in world. Human populations inhabit these diverse ecological zones and have adapted to the climatic conditions of these zones. This adaptation is manifested in health, physiological, cultural, cognitive and genetic aspects of coastal populations.

A limited number of researches have been conducted to provide a narrow understanding of coastal populations. It has been observed that work has been done from zoological, marine and other medical science point of view on the coastal aspect. This paper attempts to propound the term ‘Coastal Anthropology’ which provides comprehensive understanding of human populations inhabiting various coastal terrains. It lays emphasis upon anthropological input to coastal research which provides scientific insight into human adaptation in the coastal regions. Few suggestions have also been given to highlight the relevance of coastal anthropology in the present scenario.