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    Waterfall Fisherman Of Si Phan Don

    Photos from Laos

    There are [5] photos from Laos

    The fisherman holds on for his life knowing that one mistake here would result in certain death. The ranging Mekong pulls at his body as his weary arms cling desperately to hold him on the rope. Times like these rely on full concentration and both hands on the rope at a time, any extra luggage has to go in the mouth, knives included. Views[337] A measly catch in a fisherman’s trap. One large fish can make a huge difference to the fishermen as fish stocks dwindle in the falls. Some fishermen can go for a day or more without catching any fish. During the monsoon season it becomes even more difficult for fisherman as their traps are damaged and fish stocks are reduced more so as the fish follow the current downstream at the start of the rains. Views[1203] An elderly fisherman recalls his life fishing on the falls, risking his life each day for less than $6/£4. The toil of the job is clear on his aged and weathered skin. He speaks of plans by the WWF to ban trap fishing in an attempt to protect the rarer breeds of fish who use the falls to reach breeding grounds. Despite the challenges ahead he believes the fishermen will not give up their livelihoods easily. Views[409] The sheer power of the river is clear as a fisherman struggles to reach the bamboo bridge. The fisherman use a combination of throw nets and bamboo fishing traps to catch migratory fish travelling up through the falls. Due to the nature of the traps’ location, the fishermen have to risk their lives navigating the falls across a series of bamboo bridges and rope lines, one small slip on the bamboo could result in death for the fisherman. Views[387] A brave fisherman stares into the wall of water at Khone Phapheng falls before casting his net into the ferocious current. During the rainy season the Mekong river swells rapidly causing millions of litres of water to crash over the falls each second. The highest flow ever recorded at Khone Phapheng falls was 49,000,000 litres a second. A select few fishermen risk their lives daily to carve out a living fishing these waters. Views[1047]
     

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