Large basket fish traps, with a hexagonal shape and one inverted end, are typically used in Zanzibar and are called ‘Dema’ in Swahili. These fish traps, which have a large mesh size, were initially made from palm leaves and mangrove…

The following information was gathered from a Urak Lawoi man who has lived in the Rawai Beach Sea-Gypsy Village for 27 years. He was 57 years old and only had one tooth (incisor) left in the middle of his upper…

Rectangular squid traps are used in the Gulf of Thailand and along the coastline of the Andaman Sea in the same way as semi-circular traps. Both types are used mainly for catching Bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) but will also…

Trapping eels is a simple way for rice farmers in the catchment area of the Red River in North Vietnam to provide themselves with animal protein. No special skills are required, as with angling or net fishing. The activity is…

Trapping Snakeskin Gourami fish (Trichopodus pectoralis) is commonly done all over Southeast Asia. However, a specific trap for catching them was developed in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Its simple principle could be easily applied to many other areas of…

During the Neolithic Age (8000 BCE—1400 BCE), people across various regions began to adapt to the evolving natural environment following the Ice Age. This era is characterized by the emergence of earthenware artifacts and groundstone tools and the establishment of…

Fishing with a stomping basket has been a traditional craft in Vietnam for centuries. Postcards from the French colonial era depict this unique fishing method as a typical way for locals to catch fish. While similar techniques exist in other…

The Giant Snakehead fish (Channa micropeltes) is a highly aggressive and predatory freshwater fish. Its diet mainly consists of smaller fish, frogs, crustaceans, and aquatic prey. In Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, this fish is known as the ‘Toman’ and, along…

Bronze Whaler Sharks (Carcharhinus brachyurus), also known as Copper Sharks, are sought-after game fish for recreational anglers in many parts of the world. They are known for their impressive strength and fighting abilities, which challenge anglers. These sharks can reach…

Tigerfish hold a similar significance for Africans as the bass for Americans or carp for Europeans. These three fish species effectively represent the human populations on their respective continents. Tigers are my favorite, as they possess a remarkable blend of…

In the following, we will briefly describe a specific speargun for freshwater fishing, which I bought from a fisherman in the northern suburbs of Bangkok, Thailand. It is neither as primitive as many of these guns are, nor is it…

Mechanically propelled spears for freshwater fishing are commonly used all over Thailand. Many craft these devices themselves, so there is a wide variety of principles, styles, and designs. Besides homemade spearguns, where every piece is unique, industrial manufacturing is also…

Traditional fishing at Inle Lake is endemic and specific to this local environment. Inle Lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar, approximately 50 square miles (abt. 116 km2). During the dry season, the average water depth is only 7…

A typical fishing technique in Vietnam is ripping a weighted hook with multiple side arms through still water and hoping to hook unsuspecting fish somewhere on their body. Hooking a fish at the lips with the correct size and style…

Trapping fish in bamboo traps in Southeast Asia is normally a static affair. These fishing traps are used in still waters with or without bait inside and checked at least once daily. It was a new experience to see somebody…

Cormorant fishing is an ancient art that dates back at least 1300 years. Today, it is only practiced in the southwestern provinces of China. However, some fishermen are attempting to revive this fishing technique for tourists in water villages around…

Squid is a main source of income for many fishermen in villages around the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Because fish are becoming increasingly rare, whereas Cephalopods maintain their population. Only certain types of finfish are sold profitably,…

The Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus), called Pla Lai in Thailand, is used as a food source and for offering to the spirit deities. When still slim and young, eels are sold to the Buddhist local population for doing a…

Small lift net for catching daily meals of freshwater prawns and fish ‘Yor lek’ is a hand-lifting net; in Thai, it means something like a ‘small lift net. ‘ ‘Yor’ means ‘lift net’ and ‘lek’ means ‘small’. Its big brothers…

Description of cast nets used in Thailand Cast nets in Thailand are available in different radius models. I prefer one with a radius of 3.5 meters, which is from the center of the net to the outer axial rim chain,…

Most Thai water channels, khlongs, and streams are clogged with a variety of water plants, predominantly Common Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). This invasive species was introduced in 1901 by Thai Royalty from Indonesia and was supposed to be eradicated by…

Hand nets, equipment, and technique For hand net fishing, mosquito netting is used to sieve water bodies for rice field shrimps and fish fry in Thailand. In order not to lose caught animals, the netting was brought into a deep,…

The term ‘Bank line’ used in English to refer to a string of poles along a water bank is virtually unknown in Southeast Asia. Instead, this fishing method and its equipment are referred to by different names in the region….

In many areas of the biggest Cambodian lake, its tributary river, and the Mekong flood plains, permanent bamboo fence fish traps, or, more appropriately, catching structures, are erected and operated. The leader fence, which guides fish into the trap’s inner…