On the shores of Vellapallam, fishermen now wait not just for tides but for tractors to push their boats through a strange 'silky clay' soil. This tricky soil, found also in Pushpavanam and Vanavan Mahadevi, swallows the coastline, making boat launches hard for 1,270 families who rely on fishing. M. Ilayarani, a fisherwoman from Vellapallam, said, "We have to pay ₹200 each time a tractor helps push our boat to sea and back. On bad catch days, we end up in debt." Experts say this weird soil forms due to sediment from the Vennar River collecting in shallow sea areas and never washing away. A senior Fisheries Engineering official said, "We tried to build a breakwater at Vellapallam, but the earth simply swallowed it." Women managing shores also face injuries due to the unstable soil and lack of proper facilities. A huge ₹132-crore breakwater project is over 80% done, but nearly 70% of the stones have sunk. A fresh ₹100-crore budget has been requested, but work is on hold. In Pushpavanam, a ₹25-crore fishing harbour is still just a plan, and in Vanavan Mahadevi, promises of landing centres remain unfulfilled. Coastal activist Jones T. Spartegus criticized current policies, saying, "The government thinks building a harbour is the only solution," but has ignored key maintenance like dredging that kept these shorelines stable earlier. A Fisheries official said a new breakwater could stop soil movement if funds come through. Meanwhile, the fishing communities wait as the sea slowly swallows their shores and hopes.