These locks are coastal constructions in stone, horseshoe-shaped and up to 1km long. They are designed to trap the fish which enter the lock with the rising tide, but find themselves imprisoned when the tide recedes.
In Charente-Maritime, hundreds of locks were built from the Middle Ages, the earliest ones being nearly a thousand years old.
A fragile heritage…
Many fish locks were destroyed in the 19th century, accused of competing with the other fishing methods or posing a danger to navigation. Their construction was stopped during First World War, as was their maintenance. There remain only 14 locks today on the Ile d’Oléron and 10 on the Ile de Ré.
…but protected
The owners and local associations do all they can to protect these locks, evidence of an ancestral building art and an original means of fishing, ensure their upkeep and organise educational visits. Because besides an obvious local heritage interest, the fish locks also represent an ecological asset by protecting the coasts from erosion. They also favour the development of the flora and fauna of the shore.
A fragile heritage…
