Bhoi Ali in Kasba Peth, once a vibrant freshwater fish market, is now a pale shadow of its former self. Outnumbered by vegetable sellers, only a handful of fish vendors operate here. As he folds his fishing net, Mukesh Shirke, a member of the Bhoi community, says he is only a part-time fisherman. Unlike his ancestors the fishermen settled in Bhoi Ali at Kasba Peth who once caught fish in the Mula-Mutha rivers he cannot exclusively live off fishing anymore. Like many in the community today, he has had to take up another profession because of the dearth of freshwater bodies in the city. Explaining why the Bhois had to move away from their traditional livelihood, Shirke says, We are a traditional freshwater fishing community, but now most of us have been forced to take up other professions as there are not many places left to go fishing. About 10-12 families are into fishing anymore, and that too only part-time. The Bhois had settled in the area during the Peshwa era and used to fish in the Mula-Mutha rivers. Over the years, while the number of Bhoi families increased, the engagement with the profession decreased. Concretization along the river bed coupled with water pollution forced these fishermen to turn to the lakes in the city to eke out a living. In the late 1960s, nearly 25 families turned to machhimari at the Katraj and Ambegaon lakes. However, they again lost their source of livelihood when a ban was imposed on fishing in Katraj lake a little over a decade ago. There is another privately-controlled lake at Katraj where we sometimes go for fishing. Otherwise, we have to go to Indrayani river or Ujani. But, fishing is only a second job or a side business that we pursue in our free time, says Shirke who now works as a swimming coach. While Shirke is still, in a way, connected with water, Sunil Khadke, another Bhoi community member, has a completely land-bound job. An autorickshaw driver, Khadke says, I only drive an autorickshaw for a living. The condition of the water bodies in and around the city has deteriorated and fish cannot survive like this. If the fish can’t survive, how can we continue in this business? The catch is usually very small, and it cannot be the only source of income. No fish can survive if sewage is released into the river. Riverfront development and river rejuvenation projects will not help because of the concretization along the riverbed. Khadke said that he was engaged in both, fishing and driving an autorickshaw since he got his license in 1985. Shirke adds, About a year ago, rocks were being laid along the riverbed. But that has stopped now. Even if the fish return following the rejuvenation project, I am doubtful we would be allowed to fish in the river.