In the village Poonachchimunai, south of Batticaloa town, many pursue fishing as their livelihood. They fish both to the ses and the lagoon. Batticaloa lagoon is the largest lagoon in Sri Lanka and known for its resources of fish. There are many who make their ends meet by fishing in the lagoon. They use nets and fishing rods from canoes for fishing in the deep stretches in the middle of the lagoon. Those who fish in shallow waters use a variety of devices including fishing rods, casting nets, baskets, fish traps, karak gedi (a conical shaped trap with which large fishes are surrounded and taken out using bare hand), woven fishing traps etc.
Fish
traps are used in many parts of the country mostly to catch fish from streams
but fish trap makers of Poonachchimunai make a kind of fish trap that can be
placed in the lagoon bed for fish to creep in. These traps are examined at
regular intervals by the fishermen who own those to remove trapped fish.
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For the production of this specific fish trap, the branch of a particular kind of palm wal indi that grows in abundance in the wild is used. This particular palm looks very much like a miniature date palm. Its branches are used to make traditional brooms too in rural areas. For the purpose of making fish traps, the leaves are removed and the stem is split into two or three depending on the thickness.
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Once the raw materials are ready weaving starts. Roughly heart shaped top and bottom sides and the long stripe that joins those sides are woven separately and later they are joined maintaining the required shape. There is a funnel shaped structure which one can see in the above photographs fitted on to the front side of the trap to complete the device. The fish creep into the trap through this funnel shaped structure and enter the trap. The funnel tapers towards the end in order that it expands as fishes enter but it is not easy for fish to come out. In a way, it is like a one way valve.
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The trap
above is finished and ready for the buyer. The fisherman who uses the trap
places it with the under currents in mind. It is placed facing the flowing direction
of the current with which the fish also swim and some of them would enter the
trap. If placed carelessly, the trap too will be carried with the current. It
seems that one trap is useable over a period of six months.
The
advantage here is that the raw materials are environment friendly. Once
discarded, the traps can be burnt. In the water, it does not add any harmful
chemicals. The holes are large enough for small fish to escape once the trap is
lifted out of the water to collect trapped fish.
The fish
trap makers mention that one person needs one working day to put together one
trap since the parts are made separately. The fish trap makers mentioned that
they sell one at Rs. 1500.00 but the profit is less because they have to go a
distance to find raw materials. If a fish trap maker can invest on hiring a lorry,
it is possible to bring more raw material and make more traps enabling them to
earn more. At present, they find it difficult to save enough for such
investment. This traditional device requires the attention of organizations
helping people to improve their livelihoods.