Cormorant Fishing: An Ancient Tradition (part 3)

Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method that has been practiced for over 1300 years, primarily in China, Japan, and Peru. This method involves using trained cormorants to catch fish in rivers, with the primary species used being the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in China, Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) in Japan, and neotropic cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) in Peru. The fishermen tie a loose snare near the base of the bird’s throat to control the birds, which prevents them from swallowing larger fish while allowing them to swallow smaller ones. Once the cormorant catches a fish, the fisherman retrieves it by having the bird regurgitate it.