{"id":4421,"date":"2019-11-12T09:14:03","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T08:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/camping-les-embruns-oleron.com\/?p=4421"},"modified":"2022-12-02T16:16:54","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T15:16:54","slug":"heritage-the-fish-locks-doleron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/camping-les-embruns-oleron.com\/en\/heritage-the-fish-locks-doleron\/","title":{"rendered":"Heritage: The fish locks of Ol\u00e9ron"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have already come to\u00a0Oleron Island<\/strong>, you have surely noticed these stone walls which are revealed at low tide, on the side of the Chassiron lighthouse or\u00a0Saint-Georges-d'Oleron<\/strong>. It is a fish lock, a small piece of maritime built heritage and living culture of\u00a0Oleron Island<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A symbol of Ol\u00e9ron identity<\/h2>\n

Present on\u00a0Oleron Island<\/strong>\u00a0Since the Middle Ages, fish locks, also called fisheries, have been one of the oldest examples of built heritage that can still be discovered in\u00a0Oleron Island<\/strong>. While many of the locks are now partly in ruins, some are still in operation. But do you know exactly what a fish lock is?<\/p>\n

The art and manner of trapping fish in the Ol\u00e9ron style<\/h2>\n

A\u00a0fish lock<\/strong>\u00a0is a large stone construction that allows fish to be caught by "trapping" them at low tide. The lock is organized around a long wall of dry stones stacked on top of each other, without any binder or masonry (to better withstand winter storms). The whole thing forms a thick horseshoe-shaped wall, open to the sea.<\/p>\n

The operation of a stone fishery is quite simple, not so far from that of a navigation lock. At high tide, the locks are covered by the sea and the fish enter the enclosure quietly. At low tide, the water flows out through openings in the wall. The largest fish are thus trapped by the low walls. All the fisherman has to do is catch the fish held prisoner: sea bass, sea bream, mullet, conger eels, mackerel, etc. To do this, the lock keeper uses an "espiot", a kind of sabre used to stun the fish.<\/p>\n

A fishing technique that dates back to the Middle Ages<\/h2>\n

The first stone fisheries appeared in the 14th century, ensuring the subsistence of coastal populations. Until the middle of the 19th century, they were still numerous, particularly in\u00a0Saint-Denis d'Oleron<\/strong>,\u00a0the tip of the Chardonni\u00e8re<\/strong>,\u00a0the tip of Chassiron<\/strong>. There were then more than two hundred of them! Today, there are only 17 locks in operation, maintained by a hundred enthusiasts who are keen to revive this unique heritage.<\/p>\n

Where can you see fish locks in Ol\u00e9ron?<\/h2>\n

Since 1985, the Fish Locks and Traditional Fishing Association has been working to preserve and restore the locks of\u00a0Oleron Island<\/strong>A team of volunteers is working hard to revive the old Ol\u00e9ron fisheries, alternating between fishing trips and maintenance tasks in the stone parks.<\/p>\n