Waterfall Fisherman Of Si Phan Don

LAOS | Sunday, 9 December 2012 | Views [420] | View Smaller Image

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.

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.

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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.

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Waterfall Fisherman Of Si Phan Don

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