Photo Story: Stilt Fishermen Strike A Pose To Earn A Living

Before leaving for home, fishermen pose for photos as a new group of tourists take selfies with them at sunset on the Weligama shore on Sri Lanka’s southern coast. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Thirty years ago, stilt fishing was more widely seen in Sri Lanka and had become famous across the globe. Since the 2004 tsunami, however, this mode of fishing has declined hugely, hitting the livelihoods of those associated with the trade. Stilt fishing has now become more of a tourist attraction with the help of the government, which promotes it as an attraction.

Many of the actual stilt fishermen have taken up farming or reselling fish purchased at larger markets from Weligama to Unawatuna, a 30-kilometer stretch of southern shore in Sri Lanka. Most of these spots have tourists visiting to see stilt fishing, which doesn’t exist anymore. But fishermen like the 30-year-old Adnesh wait for tourists and pose as stilt fishermen to get photographed, for their livelihood.

They wait on the shore in the humid hot weather. When they are told that a tourist bus is arriving at the shore, they climb on their large stilts to give the tourists the real feel of stilt fishing. They work from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sometimes they do catch small fish, while getting photographed.

“There are around 135 professional fishermen in our area. They are fishing for last 30 years as I know them personally. Still some of the fishermen use stilt fishing as they love to do it,” said Akram, a 60-year-old fisherman.

For stilt fishing, a vertical pole with an attached crossbar is embedded into the sea floor among the shallows or on a riverbed. The crossbar allows the fishermen to be seated a couple of meters above the water, causing minimal shadows on the water and therefore little to no disturbance of the sea life.

“Our boss is very honest in terms of sharing the money, which is collected from tourists. He shares the money among all the fishermen, including those people who bring tourists to the shore,“ said Adnesh, while having a jackfruit on Weligama’s shore at dawn.

Once a week, these fishermen catch fish on boats and later sell them in markets. For the rest of the year, they pose in pictures for tourists.

“This is what we will be doing to earn a living,”added Adnesh, waving at me to leave.

Adnesh gets ready to climb the stilt fishing poles at Weligama shore on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Holding the hand of a tourist, Adnesh tries to bring him to the stilt fishing pole at noon. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Fishermen dry their clothes near the shore before using them for stilt fishing. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

At lunch time, they have fruit. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Adnesh, along with other fishermen, playing cards after having lunch. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Jagat Kumara, 34, is in charge or the *boss* of Adnesh, and on a phone call with the man who helps them to get tourists to the shore. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Adnesh, with another fisherman, balancing on the pole to pose in photographs for tourists. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Leaving for their homes at the dusk hour after spending the day on the seashore at Weligama. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

A tourist couple posing with fishermen on poles at sunset on Weligama beach. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Adnesh on the shore while waiting for his turn. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

The fishermen say stilt fishing is an art that requires patience and endurance. They must learn to maintain their balance on the narrow wooden-pole. The process involves waiting for hours in complete silence to catch the fish. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Holding onto his fishing rod, Adnesh sits on a stilt fishing pole to get photographed by tourists. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

One of the older fishermen, surprisingly, catches a small fish with his rod. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Adnesh, 30, has been fishing for the last 15 years. His ancestors were also fishermen. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

The fishermen share the money earned among themselves. They earn from US $5 to $8 a day. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Fishermen use kaduru wood to make the poles for stilt fishing on the shore. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

A group of tourists from China take pictures of stilt fishing near the southern shore in Weligama. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

When waves hit the shore, fishermen climb onto the poles near Weligama. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Before leaving for home, fishermen pose for photographs as a group of new tourists take selfies with them at sunset on the shore in Weligama. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

At noon, Adnesh found some eggs, which he saved somewhere on the shore. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

At times sea waves damage the shore. To protect it from the high tides, fishermen use sand bags to strengthen the shore. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

“[I] want to educate my children in future, I don’t want them to do what I am doing.” — Adnesh (Photo/Vikar Syed)

Adnesh’s niece and nephew wait outside the house as he visits his sister in the evening. (Photo/Vikar Syed)

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Vikar Syed is a multimedia journalist based in Kashmir. His work has appeared on Tribune.com, Dawn.com, The Quint, Hindustan Times and several other publications. Find Vikar on Twitter at @vikarsy.