Ritipanna

The Endangered Tradition of Fishing

(2o24)

Ritipanna, the Sinhalese term for Stilt Fishing, is a photo story documenting the endangered tradition of fishing,
unique to Sri Lanka, showcasing a harmonious connection to the sea,
highlighting the region's cultural heritage and natural beauty.


Camera: SONY Alpha III   |   Shooting Format: Digital
Shooting Locations: Sri Lanka

 

Having being practiced for over seventy years, Stilt Fishing has been a fishing method that is found exclusively in the western coast of Sri Lanka. It has been passed down to generations, however only a few are carrying on the practice.
 

The old tradition Ritipanna, the Sinhalese term for Stilt Fishing, was born as a matter of course due to shortages in food and lack of fishing boats and other equipments, following the influx of troops in Sri Lanka, during the World War II.
 

Ritipanna requires a great deal of patience and persistence, as well as balance. Two narrow poles are placed as a cross and embedded onto the sea bed, right on the shore. Fishermen climb and settle on this wooden frame, located just a few meters above the sea level. They sit and wait for the fish for about two hours, without moving or making any sound, to avoid any disturbance that would cause them swim away. The pole lasts around four months and replaced with a new one once it is worn down.
 

Back at the time, fishermen could not invest in modern equipments, therefore they created a fishing rod made out of Kithul Palm (Caryota Urens), a species of flowering plant, native to Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar and Malaysia.
 

Whilst holding this rod in one hand, they fasten themselves onto the narrow pole with the other, accompanied by a plastic bag tied to their waist or to the wooden frame. They collect their catch from the shallow waters - mostly mackerels and herrings - in this bag.
 

The practice takes place during sunrise and sunset times, usually lasting a few hours. There are specific spots along the coast where they can fish during all seasons. They start early in the morning and keep fishing until around nine, when the sun starts to show its presence. Buyers from nearby villages arrive in these fishing spots to buy the freshly caught fish in the morning, while the evening shift is mostly practiced for personal consumption.
 

The season is at its peak during the south-west monsoon (Yala), originating from the Indian Ocean that brings the most rain to the west coast during May and June, driving the boat fishermen as well on stilts due to the stormy weather and big waves.  During this high season, fishermen can catch nearly five kilograms of fish per day.
 

The south-western coast of Sri Lanka has been changed drastically, with the impact of the tsunami in 2004 and striked the fishing industry deeply. Most fishermen were forced to find alternate jobs, therefore, Ritipanna ceased to be their main source of income.
 

Currently, some locals carry on the practice that is unique to this part of the world, only to avoid the tradition going extinct, as an attraction for tourist, offering to pose in exchange for a small tip. Despite the common consideration of this act being disingenuous, the tradition of Stilt Fishing still survives, hopefully to become widespread once again in the near future.