Fishing Comorants in Dali

We had a hard time finding the place where the fishing comorants are in action as it is in a remote part of Erhai Lake. My host is one who does not give up easily and after some enquiries, we finally got to the place.

This unique way of fishing is a dying trade. The owner rears comorants and trains them to catch fish. He puts a ring round the neck of the comorants to prevent them from swallowing the fish they caught and then throw them into the lake and ask them to go fishing. Once they caught the fish, they will swim back to the owner and he takes the fish out from its mouth by prompting the comorant to vomit out his catch. (See photo No. FC-005) After one or 2 catch, the show is over and the owner rows back gleefully, happy that his comorants put up a show and did not let him down and that we get to see what we paid for. Ah! it's so commercialize! (See photo no. FC-032 and 033)

Some said it is cruel way of fishing but watching this in Dali, I think the owner is not being cruel as he does loves his comorants and this is meant for show only as it puts bread and butter on his plate. In fact, he is proud to show off his comorants and very accomodating when it comes to photo taking.