Charfia, which literally translates as the “House of Death,” is a Tunisian traditional method of fishing that catches fish alive. Fishermen work with the tide to prevent destroying their natural habitats and killing them unnecessarily.
Charfia is a unique method to the Kerkennah islands, though it can sometimes be seen in Chebba and Dejerba. It belongs to the local culture and represents a deep knowledge of the environment.
The traditional fishery system of the Kerkennah Islands depends on the hydrographic conditions, seabed contours, and natural resources on land as well as in the water. The system uses palm fronds embedded in the seabed to create a triangular barrier, blocking the way for fish drawn in by the ebb tide and channelling them into capture chambers and eventually a net or trap.
As opposed to bottom trawling systems that scrape the seabed, charfia traps keep fish alive and fasting until they are raised. Charfias are typically installed and operated between the autumn equinox and June to give marine wildlife a biological rest period. Charfias are rebuilt each year, accompanying social practices such as sharing a meal or offering rogatory prayers to the marine gods.
Knowledge of underwater topography and marine currents is necessary to practice charfia. A lot of Kerkennah residents learn to fish when they are young, and it is common for people to pass their fishery on to their eldest son in order to perpetuate ownership.
Vocational training centers provide indirect training, and charfia fishing is their main fishing technique. In the different phases of the process, from installing the charfia and the accompanying rituals to raising the traps, the entire community takes part in varying degrees, making it a unifying element for all Kerkenians.
Unfortunately, there are several threats to the ancient technique of fishing today. These include the collapse of fishery resources, pressure from the fishing industry, a shortage of palm tree leaves, the abandonment of this method by the younger generations in favor of easier techniques, and the increasing monopolization of ownership of sea plots.
Various measures have been taken in order to preserve and protect the Kerkennah Islands and its fishing community. This has been accomplished by taking measures and initiatives to protect marine biodiversity and to support indigenous sustainable fisheries, including the charfia. For example, the certification label, marked "Fish from Charfia," promotes and preserves the fishery.