Abstract
The recent inscription (in 2022) of the ancestral fishing technique in the Kerkenah islands in central eastern Tunisia offers an opportune example for the study of international mechanisms for protecting intangible heritage and taking into account environmental and ecological balances. Charfia fishing in the Kerkennah Islands is a traditional, passive fishing technique that capitalises on the hydrographic conditions, seabed contours and natural resources both at sea and on land. The ‘charfia’ is a fixed fishery system consisting of palm fronds embedded in the seabed to create a triangular barrier, blocking the path of the fish pulled in by the ebb tide and channelling them into capture chambers and finally into a net or trap. Unlike bottom trawling systems that scrape the seabed, the traps keep the fish alive and fasting until raised. It is customary to install and operate the charfia only between the autumn equinox and June to ensure the marine wildlife have a biological rest period. The charfias are rebuilt each year, accompanied by social practices such as sharing a meal or rogatory prayers. The practice of charfia fishing requires extensive knowledge of underwater topography and marine currents. It is important to use this example, whose inscription has been widely acclaimed both internally and internationally, to gauge the strengths and limitations of the system for protecting intangible heritage.
Presenters
Ghazi GherairiProfesseur, Faculté des Sciences Juridiques, Politiques et Sociales, Université de Carthage, Tunisie, Tunis, Tunisia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Economic, Social, and Cultural Context
KEYWORDS
INTERNATIONAL LAW, INTANGIBLE HERITAGE,UNESCO,FISHING, MARINE WILDELIFE, TUNISIA, KERKENAH
