Chinese fishing nets in Kerala’s littoral Fort Kochi proudly testify to ancient trading ties between far-flung shores. Hundreds of fishermen once worked these ingenious devices, until more modern ways of fishing took over.

Only about a 100 fishermen still use the Chinese fishing nets in the Fort Kochi and Vypeen areas. With them survives the expertise of operating the traditional contraptions which, according to some versions of history, were brought by the Chinese explorer Zheng He. Recent research points to Portuguese Casado settlers from Macau though. Five, sometimes six fishermen are needed to operate each net.

In the 1980s, Fort Kochi alone had 21 Chinese fishing nets. Local fishermen say the tide turned from 1995 onwards. Cost and scarcity of teakwood led many to opt for steel and motorised versions of the net. Fish are fewer now after the constant dredging of the shipping channel. An activity passed down several generations no longer holds the same allure. Only 11 nets remain in Fort Kochi and nine in Puthuvypeen, of which four are motorised and can be operated by a team of just two fishermen.

With the steadily dwindling number of Chinese fishnets, Kerala’s coastlines might be seeing the last of them. For the seaside folk of Kochi, there is no time to mourn this dying skill as the search for new forms of livelihood ensues.

Photos by: Thulasi Kakkat

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