Carrelet – Charente-Maritime – France

by Albert Videt Jensen

Carrelet fishing – Charente-Maritime, France

Carrelet, definition
A carrelet is a square net stretched over a frame and submerged horizontally from a jetty extending out to sea. Usually attached to a hut, it is used to catch fish and shellfish. This traditional technique is also known as an ‘'’ ‘ableret’, ‘carré’, ‘carreau’ or ‘échiquier’.

Pontoon-based installation
Carrelets rest on stilts supporting a platform connected to the shore by a footbridge. The setup generally comprises a frame, slings, a winch and various fishing equipment.

Platform-based installation
Some installations do not have a footbridge and are only accessible'à marée basse, procurant une sensation d'isolement au milieu de l'n the open sea.

Fishing with a ‘carrelet’ net, location
This practice is particularly widespread in Charente-Maritime as well as in the estuaries of the Charente and the Gironde. It also persists along certain stretches of the Vendée coastline and as far a'à l'the mouth of the Loire.

The ‘carrelet’ net: a brief'history
The term ‘carrelet’ first appeared in the French language around 1360. In 1769, Henri Louis Duhamel du Monceau described it in detail'usage dans son ouvrage Des Pêches maritimes et fluviatiles. À partir de la fin du XIXe siècle, l's the use of masts, pulleys and winches encouraged the development of this recreational fishing activity.

Other information: Storms, notably that of December 1999, severely damaged the Charente installations before they were rebuilt. This practice remains strictly regulated in public maritime waters and has various variations in France and Italy.