Will the Chinese fishing net rise from its ruin?

Think Kochi and the first image that comes to mind is that of the Chinese fishing net set against an evening sky. Tourism brochures and tour guides sell Kochi and Kerala with promised sights of these nets and that's how Kochi is marketed to the rest of the world. But strangely when it comes to maintaining and renovating them, nobody seems to be keen on picking up the expenses.This sad situation of the nets has been doing its rounds in the media, but to no avail. But now, all of a sudden, the Chinese nets are back in the spotlight after the Chinese government, obviously disturbed by sad state of their legacy left behind on our shores by the Portuguese, recently submitted a proposal to the government for its renovation. A delegation from China recently visited Kochi and according to reports the Chinese government will bear the entire cost of renovation and beautification and the Kochi Corporation will only need to grant permission to carry out the works. The team wants the work to be over before Chinese president's visit to India in September-October.
Theatre and film actor Vinay Forrt, however, feels that even if the Chinese government offers support, it is primarily our responsibility to maintain them. "Close your eyes and think of Fort Kochi and you would see the beach and the Chinese fishing nets. Crores are being spent on tourist projects, why not spend a few lakhs on these nets? In Fort Kochi, the place where you go to celebrate and when you are sad is the same, the beach. And the scenery is incomplete without those nets."
Locals are sceptical
However, locals in the Fort Kochi and Vypeen areas express their fears on whether the promised amount for repair will reach the right hands. "We all know how these things work. The Chinese government might offer financial support, but I doubt whether the money will be used on these nets. And who will take up the responsibility - the government, the tourism department or the owner/licensee of the net?" asks Hamsoo, a tourist guide from Fort Kochi.
Dwindling fishing community
Fisher folk also point out that the dilapidation of the nets has been going on for the past few years, though it came to light only now. Apart from the fact that the profit from the nets has been going down over the years, there are other factors which have contributed to the licensee holders of the nets not maintaining them, they say. "The fishing community per se is dwindling. All the fishermen who handle the Chinese nets today are above 40," points out Jerald Livero, another tourist guide. "Also, not just any carpenter can repair these nets, only those with expertise in them can handle them. Earlier, there used to be a community of them but not many in the next generation," he adds.
Tourist tips keep them going
Foreign tourists who visit Fort Kochi and Vypeen are invariably curious about the nets and more often than not, seek information about it, say the guides. "There are even tourists who visit these areas from Alleppey or Kollam just for a glimpse of the nets. At times, the tourists tip the fishermen involved generously. The nets are thus more than just a means of fishing for the fishermen," says Anson Assissi, who coordinates overseas models for films.
A well-maintained net can bring huge profits
The fisher folk stress that the nets have to be kept in usable condition, and should not be retained just for their aesthetic value. "These nets are more than a visual spectacle and are more profitable compared to other nets. Owing to its structure and size, you get a much bigger haul of fish each time, up to 10 Thirutha (grey mullet) even! And the smaller fish can be thrown back into the sea, which can't be done with the other nets. During high tide, you catch the sea fish while during low tide, river fish can be caught," says Jerald. You can also catch fish from the shore and don't need to spend on expensive machinery, as they are manually operated. The nets are expensive, they cost `3 lakhs each and upwards and need to be overhauled completely every two years. But the overhauling is worth it, as at times you get a haul worth almost `50,000! "The amount is divided among the 5-6 workers required to operate it, and the mandatory 20-30 percent share is given to the owner/licensee holder," says Jerald.
Get to know your Chinese fishing net
Here are some lesser known facts about the Chinese fishing nets:
* Kunchacko Boban's grandfather, Kunchacko, had made a movie called Cheenavala (Chinese net) in 1975, which had Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi in the lead roles.
* They were not actually brought in by or made by the Chinese. The technique reached Kochi in the 1500s through the Portuguese, which had colonies in China. Parts of the net still have Portuguese names.
* It is said that the Portuguese sailors were fond of seafood and had a favourite dish which they made with codfish, similar to our Fish Moilee. Though codfish was unavailable in Kerala, they would make do with salmon or Grey Mullet (Thirutha). However, the flesh of the Thirutha tastes mildly of mud along the Kerala coast because of the seaweed consumed by the fish. But since the Kochi and Vypeen coasts are free of seaweed, the Thirutha here tastes fresh and salty. The Chinese nets were installed primarily to catch the Thirutha.
* The original nets were much smaller, though they used the Chinese technique of making use of a Cantilever to haul the net up manually. Over time, the bamboo which the Chinese used was replaced by teak, which suited our climates much better. They were made bigger too. The Chinese stopped using it probably because it wasn't cost effective for them.
* Tourists from France and Thailand say they still have similar fishing nets, especially in the south of France, but miniature versions. It was the National Geographic which found out that the ones used in Kochi are the biggest in the world.
* Till around 50 years back, they were very much in use and it even used to be a pastime for the wealthy to place bets on the fish haul. Gujarati and Anglo Indian businessmen would bet amounts as big as `500 for a haul. Whatever the haul would belong to them; if you are lucky, you get a haul worth much more than `500.
* Each net had a name of its own, even. The first net you see as you get down the bus or jhankar at Fort Kochi is called 'bank vala' (it was bought with a bank loan). Then there is 'Andru vala' and many others, named by their owners.