They don’t have any modern fishing equipment, but Belgian shrimp fishermen manage to attract tourists every summer by following a unique, old fishing method.
All they have, is a net, two wicker baskets and a horse to catch shrimps.
During low tide, the fishermen ride a carthorse to leave the fishing net in the sea in the coastal town of Oostduinkerke. At the end of the day, the fishermen empty the nets and put the contents into two wicker baskets fixed on each side of the horse.
The catch is then sorted out and boiled.
This traditional method of catching shrimp along the North Sea coast dates back some 500 years.
Below are pictures of this so-called “old school” fishing method that draws tourists to the coastal town of Oostduinkerke every year.
Shrimp is seen in a basket at the coastal town of Oostduinkerke, August 16, 2011.REUTERS/Yves HermanBelgian shrimp fisherman Maurius rides a carthorse to haul a net out of the sea after catching shrimps during low tide at the coast town of Oostduinkerke, August 16, 2011.REUTERS/Yves HermanBelgian shrimp fisherman Maurius rides a carthorse to haul a net out of the sea after catching shrimps during low tide at the coast town of Oostduinkerke, August 16, 2011.REUTERS/Yves HermanBelgian shrimp fisherman Maurius prepares his nets ahead of shrimp fishing during low tide at the coast town of Oostduinkerke, August 16, 2011.REUTERS/Yves HermanBelgian shrimp fisherman Eddy D' Hulster, 68, who has been fishing for shrimp for 47 years, rides a carthorse to haul a net out of the sea after catching shrimp during low tide at the coastal town of Oostduinkerke, August 16, 2011.REUTERS/Yves HermanBelgian shrimp fishermen ride their carthorses to haul nets out the sea after catching shrimp during low tide in the coastal town of Oostduinkerke August 16, 2011.REUTERS/Yves HermanA Belgian shrimp fisherman sorts out his catch at the coastal town of Oostduinkerke, August 16, 2011.REUTERS/Yves Herman
