Sea Court ( കടൽ കോടതി ) Kadakkoddi
It is an aberration of the Malayalam word Kadal Kodathi that means Sea Court (Kadal means Sea and Kodathi means Court), an institution existed along the coast of Kerala especially in Malabar. This is purely a community institution for fishery management in Kerala . This institution has many regulatory, and dispute settling powers. The composition of this institution is normally mono caste or religion. The head of the Kadakkodi is called “Ashan” “Achan” “Moopan” in malabar side. In south side of Kerala coast it is called Karayoghams means group of people from a particular region gathered together for discussing their daily issues including fishing matters family matters etc.
Earlier days this kaddakkodi or the karayogham has the power of Local management fish habitat, Local management in respect of fishing gears Local management in respect of nets measures and Resolving issues related to fishing, Conflicts related to fishery be brought first to the kadakkodies for resolution
