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Nov 2018

In pictures: cormorant fishing in Guilin, China

By Eris Choo

Developed in China and Japan 1,300 years ago, cormorant fishing is a tradition in danger of extinction. Photographer Gilad Fiskus takes us through a fascinating insight of the last practitioners of these ancient culture.

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Before releasing the birds to do their fishing, the fishermen tie a thin rope around their necks - at the base of the throat - so they cannot swallow the fish they catch.
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Most of them are in their senior years and will likely take their skills, along with the tradition, with them when they leave this world
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Few cormorant fishermen remain these days along the banks of the Li River
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Fishermen float bamboo rafts along the Li River using long wooden paddles, taking several trained cormorants with them
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The fishing at night is a spectacular sight to behold. The flickering lights attract the fish to the rafts, and the cormorants, endowed with good night vision, need only to dive in and collect them. Fishing is also done early in the morning. To increase the catch, the fishermen throw a giant net into the water, trapping the fish underneath.

 

“It is possible that the current generation of fishermen, who range in age from 70 to 80, will be the last to preserve this ancient tradition. There are a few reasons for this. Global warming and increased environmental pollution have caused a decrease in the number of fish in rivers and lakes, while the increase in tourism has allowed the elders to make a respectable living from the display of their culture rather than from the fishing itself.Lastly, the computer age has crucially impacted the younger generation.” – Dr Gilad Fiskus

The post In pictures: cormorant fishing in Guilin, China appeared first on Going Places by Malaysia Airlines.