Cheena Vala Chinese Fishing Nets Fort Kochi Kerala

The Cheena Vala (Chinese fishing nets) of Fort Kochi in Ernakulam district, Kerala, are a living heritage fishing system believed to have been introduced by traders from the court of Kublai Khan in the 14th century, making them the oldest Chinese technological introduction still in daily use in India. Each cheena vala is a massive cantilevered fishing net structure of teak poles and ropes, counter-balanced by boulders and operated by a team of 4 to 8 fishers who lever the net down into the water, wait for fish to swim over the net bed, then haul it up. The net operates exclusively in the tidal backwaters and harbour channel of Kochi, where the tidal flush brings fish across the net bed. The operators of cheena vala are hereditary tenants who inherit rights to specific net sites along the Kochi waterfront — 20 to 30 sites still operate between Fort Kochi and Vypeen island. Cheena vala are not efficient for high-volume catch; the attraction is in the spectacle and tradition. The fishing community members who operate cheena vala supplement their income through tourist engagement — visitors pay to pull the net and can buy fresh catch immediately from the vala platform. The Kerala government and Kochi Museum promote cheena vala as the city's living architectural heritage and most photographed landmark.