The Stilt Fishermen of Sri Lanka

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Amazing & Intresting

Wednesday, 07 April 2010 00:00

There is a small village on the southern coast of Sri Lanka called Weligamma. It is a lovely place where local fisherman have adopted an almost unique way of fishing. As you approach Weligama along the coast road east from Galle you will encounter Sri Lanka’s famous stilt fishermen. Each fisherman has a long pole with a crossbar that is stuck in the seabed close to the shore. The fishermen wade or swim out to these poles at times when the sea and fish are running in the right direction. They then perch on the crossbar, cast out their lines, and wait patiently for a nibble. The origin of this unusual fishing technique is unknown, but it is so successful that each stilt position is highly prized and handed down from father to son. However just think that nowadays they earn more from the tourists than the fish !!

The Stilt Fishermen of Sri Lanka

An old tradition around Sri Lanka, stilt fishing had disappeared after the devastating tsunami that hit the country and other parts of the Indian Ocean, but soon the people returned to their customs, and now you can spot them sitting on their uncomfortable stilts, hoping to catch something.

The Stilt Fishermen of Sri Lanka

Though they may be beautiful to look at, stilt fishermen have it rough. They spend hours sitting on a thin plank, hoping to catch one or two fish about 5 cm-long, that they sell for about 2 cents each. The rough waves keep the big fish away, so they sometimes have to settle for te smallest catch. But it’s a small price to pay in order to preserve centuries-old traditions.