Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method in which fishermen use trained
cormorantThe bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
s to fish in rivers. Historically, cormorant fishing has taken place in
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
,
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
and
MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country in the central Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, as well as other places throughout the world.
To control the birds, the fishermen tie a snare near the base of the bird's throat. This prevents the birds from swallowing larger fish, which are held in their throat, but the birds can swallow smaller fish.
Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method in which fishermen use trained
cormorantThe bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
s to fish in rivers. Historically, cormorant fishing has taken place in
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
,
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
and
MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country in the central Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, as well as other places throughout the world.
To control the birds, the fishermen tie a snare near the base of the bird's throat. This prevents the birds from swallowing larger fish, which are held in their throat, but the birds can swallow smaller fish. When a cormorant has caught a fish in its throat, the fisherman brings the bird back to the boat and has the bird spit the fish up. Though cormorant fishing once was a successful industry, its primary use today is to serve the tourism industry.
The types of cormorants used differ based on the location. In
Gifuis a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...
,
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the
Japanese CormorantThe Japanese Cormorant , also known as Temminck's Cormorant, is a cormorant native to East Asia. It lives from Taiwan north through Korea and Japan to the Russian Far East....
(
P. capillatus) is used; Chinese fishermen often employ
Great CormorantThe Great Cormorant , known as the Great Black Cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the Black Cormorant in Australia and the Black Shag further south in New Zealand, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds...
s (
P. carbo).
DarterThe darters or snakebirds are mainly tropical waterbirds in the family Anhingidae. There are four living species, three of which are very common and widespread while the fourth is rarer and classified as near-threatened by the IUCN. The term "snakebird" is usually used without any additions to...
s (
Anhinga), which are very close relatives of cormorants, are also used for this fishing technique on occasion.
Japan
Cormorant fishing, called
ukai (鵜飼) in
Japaneseis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family. There are a number of proposed relationships with other languages, but none have gained general acceptance...
, takes place in 13 cities in Japan. The most famous location is Gifu,
Gifu Prefectureis a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu. Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
, home to
Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara Riverhas played a vital role in the history of the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Throughout its long history, it evolved from a means to live, to a profitable industry, to a major tourist draw...
, which has continued uninterrupted for the past 1,300 years. Cormorant fishing in
Sekiis a city located in Gifu, Japan.The city was founded on October 15, 1950.On February 7, 2005, the municipalities of Horado, Itadori, Kaminoho, Mugegawa and Mugi, all part of Mugi District, were merged into the present-day city. As of this merger, the city has an estimated population of 94,911 and...
also takes place on the
Nagara RiverThe has its source in the city of Gujō, Gifu Prefecture, and its mouth in the city of Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Along with the Kiso River and Ibi River, the Nagara River is one of the Kiso Three Rivers of the Nōbi Plain. Previously, the river was named Sunomata River...
, but it is called "Oze Cormorant Fishing" (小瀬鵜飼
Oze Ukai). Only the cormorant fishing masters in Gifu and Seki are employed by the emperor and called Imperial Fishermen of the Royal Household Agency.
- Fuefuki
is a city located in Yamanashi, Japan.The city was founded on October 12, 2004 from the merger of six towns and villages from Higashiyatsushiro and Higashiyamanashi Districts.The city abosorbed the village of Ashigawa on August 1, 2006...
, Yamanashi Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Kōfu.-Pre-history to the 14th century:People have been living in the Yamanashi area for about 30,000 years...
(Fuefuki River)
- Gifu
is a city located in the south-central portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. The city has played an important role in Japan's history because of its location in the middle of the country. During the Sengoku period, various warlords, including Oda Nobunaga, used...
, Gifu Prefectureis a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu. Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
(Nagara RiverThe has its source in the city of Gujō, Gifu Prefecture, and its mouth in the city of Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Along with the Kiso River and Ibi River, the Nagara River is one of the Kiso Three Rivers of the Nōbi Plain. Previously, the river was named Sunomata River...
)
- Seki
is a city located in Gifu, Japan.The city was founded on October 15, 1950.On February 7, 2005, the municipalities of Horado, Itadori, Kaminoho, Mugegawa and Mugi, all part of Mugi District, were merged into the present-day city. As of this merger, the city has an estimated population of 94,911 and...
, Gifu Prefecture (Nagara River)
- Inuyama
is a city located near Nagoya in Aichi, Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 1954. As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 73,247 and the density of 977.02 persons per km². The total area is 74.97 km²...
, Aichi Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Tokai region of the Chūbu region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...
(Kiso RiverThe is a river in Japan roughly 227 km long, flowing through the prefectures of Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie before emptying into Ise Bay a short distance away from the city of Nagoya. It is the main river of the Kiso Three Rivers and forms a major part of the Nōbi Plain...
)
- Uji
is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Founded on March 1, 1951, Uji is located between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The city sits on the Uji River, which has its source in Lake Biwa. As of April 1, 2008, Uji has an estimated population...
, Kyoto Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :
this whole explanation is about the city of Kyoto, not the prefecture...
(Uji River)
- Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area....
, Kyoto Prefecture (Ōi Riverthumb|250px|Togetsukyo BridgeThe is a continuation of two other rivers, the Hozu River, a small, speedy river which begins in the mountains near Kameoka and then slithers through the mountains separating Kameoka and Kyoto; and the Ōi River , which emerges from those mountains and expands into a...
)
- Arida
is a city in Wakayama, Japan. As of 2008, the city had an estimated population of 30,787 in an area totalling 36.91 km². The city was founded on 1 May 1956 when the neighbouring four towns of Minoshima, Miyazaki, Yasuda and Miahara merged to form a single city. The main industries in Arida and the...
, Wakayama Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on the Kii Peninsula in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Wakayama.- History :Present-day Wakayama is mostly the western part of the province of Kii.-Cities:...
(Arida River)
- Miyoshi
is a city located in Hiroshima, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954.On April 1, 2004, Miyoshi City merged with the towns of Kisa, Mirasaka, Miwa and the villages of Funo, Kimita, and Sakugi in Futami District and the town of Kōnu in Kōnu District to form the new city of Miyoshi. Futami...
, Hiroshima Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima, formerly divided into Bingo and Aki provinces, has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded history...
(Basen River)
- Masuda
is a city located in Shimane, Japan.As of August 2009, the city has an population 51,599 and the density of 70.4 person persons per square km². The total area is 733.16 km²...
, Shimane Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, next to the Tottori Prefecture that is a neighboring prefecture on the east side. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the...
(Takatsu River)
- Iwakuni
is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan.On March 20, 2006, the old city of Iwakuni merged with the towns of Kuga, Mikawa, Miwa, Nishiki, Shūtō and Yū, and the village of Hongō to form the new, expanded city of Iwakuni.- History :...
, Yamaguchi Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Yamaguchi located in the center of the Prefecture: The largest city, by contrast, is Shimonoseki.- History :...
(Nishiki RiverThe is a 110 km long river, the longest in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The Nishiki is the main river in a larger system measuring 331.8 km in total. The government of Japan classifies it as a second-class river system. The Nishiki River system drains an area of 884.2 km².The...
)
- Ōzu
is a city located in Ehime, Japan.On January 11, 2005, the city merged with the municipalities of Nagahama, Hijikawa, and Kawabe to form the new city of Ōzu....
, Ehime Prefectureis a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province...
(Hiji River)
- Hita
is a city in Ōita Prefecture, Japan, that was founded on December 11, 1940. It is an agricultural and industrial centre that primarily produces lumber, furniture, and pottery. Its attractions and scenic beauty also make it a popular tourist destination....
, Ōita Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :After the Meiji Restoration, Bungo and southern Buzen Provinces were combined to form Ōita Prefecture: These provinces were divided among many local daimyo and thus a large castle town never...
(Mikuma River)
- Asakura
is a city located in south central Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city was created on March 20, 2006 when the former city of Amagi merged with the former towns of Asakura and Haki to form the new city of Asakura.-Geography:...
, Fukuoka Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
(Chikugo RiverThe is a river that flows through Kumamoto, Ōita, Fukuoka and Saga prefectures in Japan. With a total length of 143 kilometers, it is the longest river of Kyūshū island. It rises under the Mount Aso, and discharges into Ariake Sea. It is also nicknamed "Chikushijirō"...
)
China
In
GuilinGuilin is a prefecture-level city in China, situated in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on the west bank of the Li River. Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city...
, China, cormorant birds are famous for fishing on the shallow
Lijiang RiverThe Li River or Li Jiang is a river in Guangxi Province, China....
.
Europe
Cormorant fishing took place in Europe briefly from the 16th to 17th centuries, primarily in
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
. Though the fishing method was similar to those used in Japan and China, the European method was developed independently and was closely related to
falconryFalconry or hawking is a sport which involves the use of good looking raptors to hunt or pursue game for humans. There are two traditional terms used to describe a person involved in falconry: a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk or an eagle...
.
Peru
There are records of a form of cormorant fishing taking place in
PeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.Peruvian territory was home to the Norte Chico...
back in the 5th century, outdating Japan's cormorant fishing by an entire century.