Cormorant Fishing in Yangshuo

Cormorant fishing is a very interesting activity to observe and the birds themselves have a very distinctive appearance. Their long necks and large wingspans make them very impressive to behold. They excel at fishing and are used by the local fisherman in Yangshuo who take them out on their bamboo rafts. They can dive underwater and search for fish and then catch them in their beaks and return to the surface.

The fishermen tie string loosely around their necks, so that they are unable to swallow the fish. When they have their catch they will be lifted out of the water and the fish will be retrieved and put into a basket.

Cormorant Fishing in Yangshuo

Watching this unique type of fishing is a popular activity in the evenings in Yangshuo and you can even follow this up by sampling or learning to cook beer fish (the main local delicacy).

Clip from the BBC's Wild China series.

The birds are always allowed to eat some of their catch and they are also usually kept in good condition. A Cormorant weighs between 1.7 kg to 3 kg. It can live up to 23 years and has a wingspan from 130 cm up to 160 cm.

Go to Wikipedia for more info about Cormorant Fishing.