These fishermen's huts are a Charente-Maritime institution
Perched high above the rocks or mud, carrelets are fishing huts. Shacks on stilts that rise above the rusty waters of the estuary or coastline, a way of life that's not always easy.
The technique is to place the net right on the bottom because the fish are looking to eat the mud worms, so they come over the net. It's a chance fishery, and we lift the net every two minutes or so when we feel the weather is right for fishing, when there's wind and current.
Sometimes you don't catch anything, depending mainly on the wind. When the winds are northerly or easterly, all inland winds are generally bad for fishing, as the fish are further offshore.
Night fishing is possible and often, if not always, better at night than during the day. Fish are less wary and come to shallower, calmer waters to swim or feed.
The carrelet is the net on a metal frame, the centerpiece of the hut.
The first turns of the crank were, in a way, the birth certificate of the fishery. It takes around 1,500 hours of work to create this space of freedom suspended above the water.
These fishermen's huts are an institution in Charente-Maritime, and requests for them are multiplying. Every year, sites are allocated to buy or renovate a carrelet, but there are no sites left to build new ones.
How do I buy a plaice?
It's still possible to buy a carrelet, as there are 11 places to buy in 2023 in Charente-Maritime. Fishermen retiring from fishing are giving them up, and pontoons are up for sale. These wooden huts on stilts are looking for new owners, and not just fishermen. They are also owned by communes, private individuals and associations.
These carrelets, which have been listed as part of the Charente-Maritime region's cultural heritage for many years, are one of the richest features of the coastline. This fishing technique dates back to the 18th century. These colorful cabins add a touch of color to the somewhat brown or gray sea.
Future buyers attracted by the beauty of these sites should contact the owner and make a financial proposal. Prices can be negotiated between ?30,000 and ?40,000.
Applications must then be submitted to the Direction Départementale des Territoires et de la Mer. Applications are ranked in order of arrival, and examined by a commission made up of representatives of the communes, the State and the Conservatoire du Littoral. For this commission, the aim is to preserve this heritage and enhance this natural area.
