Chinese invention, Kerala’s pride
Popularly known as Cheena vala in local terms, Chinese fishing nets line the Cochin coast. They are a popular tourist attraction at Fort Kochi. They are mainly near the Fort Kochi beach and around.
These shore-operated lift nets are fitted with horizontal nets, each 20m or more. There are usually about 10m high and have heavy stones suspended from ropes as counterweights to hold it in position. The beams and poles are made of teak wood and bamboo. Each ‘net’ is operated by a team of five or six fishermen.
After it is set up, the net is left for a short while before it is raised by pulling the ropes. Most of the catch is used for personal uses and later in the nearby markets. People often buy fish from them and get it cooked from stalls close by.
Kochi was a very important spice trade centre and it is said that the nets were introduced by the Chinese explorer Zheng He. Operational Chinese fishing nets can also be found at Vypeen, Kumbalanghi and Perumpadappu.
