The cantilever fishing net

Cheena vala in Malayalam or the Chinese fishing net is a system of fishing where a huge net installed on the shore is cast into the sea using a counterweight balancing system. The Chinese fishing nets are a common sight in and around the backwaters of Kochi in Kerala, especially in the Fort Kochi area.

The cantilever arrangement from which the net is lowered into the sea is made of teak and bamboo and is operated by a group of at least six people. This fishing system is believed to have been in use in Kerala from the latter half of the 14th century.