In September 2021, protesters started a road blockade near the factory, claiming that heavy traffic from the plant was damaging the road.¹ It was the latest in a series of protests against the factory, with local residents previously taking issue against the “foul smells” coming from the plant.² In response to the protests, the company reached an agreement with local police to spend the next year constructing a separate road for delivering supplies to and from the plant.³

In correspondence with The Outlaw Ocean Project, Bismi Aquatic Products denied there was any heavy traffic from the plant which hampered the daily activities of local residents, and that the plant’s location was approved to ensure minimum interference with local people. “Fish trucks coming in and out of the plant are always maintained in an enclosed insulated condition and thoroughly cleaned prior to exit from the factory, making it nearly impossible for foul smell to get into the local environment,” the company said. “We have an influx of maximum 15 to 20 vehicles per day, which is not much of significance that can cause traffic bottlenecks as alleged by the local residents. The allegation raised by the local residents is baseless and appears to be based on misinformation and political vendetta.”⁴

On December 12, 2021, a 25-year old migrant worker named Nabin Oram passed out while cleaning a wastewater tank at the Bismi Aquatic Products fishmeal plant.⁵ Two other workers tried to save him.⁶ They too passed out.⁷ Ambulances soon arrived to transport the workers, and Oram died en route to the hospital.⁸ Fishmeal wastewater tanks are often high in noxious gases that can cause asphyxiation. The plant was later faulted by government officials for inadequate safety protections, a claim that the plant operators denied.⁹ Following the incident, local authorities launched a criminal investigation.¹⁰ Four years earlier, a petition was filed with the Madras High Court attempting to stop the factory from producing fish oil, alleging it caused severe pollution in a residential area. The village council canceled the factory's license due to environmental complaints. The High Court instructed that should the village council issue a new license, the District Environmental Engineer should monitor the factory to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.¹¹

Bismi Aquatic Products said in a written response to The Outlaw Ocean Project that the 2021 incident was sudden and “left an indelible mark” with “lessons learned ensuring better operating safety guidelines” for the plant and its workers. It said that it was the only major incident at the plant resulting in a fatality in the nine years since it started operating, and occurred when the worker bypassed the supervision protocol and entered the tank without the requisite authorization. “We were swift with our response to take necessary actions and were successful in reviving other two workers, " the company added. “We have extended our full support and cooperation to the bereaved family members which includes financial compensation and required assistance.”¹²

Bismi Aquatic Products also said that the company has been subject to false accusations of excessive pollution which are “unfounded and are not backed [by] any scientific and factual evidence.” The plant undergoes regular evaluation and checks from regulatory authorities and the manufacturing unit is “monitored periodically to ensure no anomalies arise concerning pollution of any form detrimental to the environment or local community.” The company added: “Our state of the art facilities, waste management practices, fully functional effluent treatment plant, bio filters, ensures pollution levels adhere to environmental norms.”¹³