Battle lines drawn to fish in China’s Thousand Island Lake
One fisherman on Qiandao lake likens their work during the spring fishing season to a military campaign as they corral their catch into huge nets
On a clear sunny morning in eastern China, the surface of Qiandao Lake boils with tens of thousands of thrashing carp as they are swept into the nets of fisherman like Ye Zhiqing.
So begins the spring fishing season for Ye, who commands about 100 fishing vessels on the lake in Zhejiang province, a picturesque man-made freshwater reservoir whose name means “Thousand Island Lake” after its more than 1,000 wooded islets.
Covering an area nearly the size of Singapore and known for its clear waters, Qiandao Lake is a major aquaculture production centre for eastern China and is notable for the unique methods of fishermen like Ye.
Though their peak season begins now and runs through summer, Ye and his crew live on the lake for 10 months of the year, waking early to scan the surface for telltale ripples.
“We are like nomads on a prairie,” Ye said. “We go where the fish are.”
Once the schools – silver carp and big-head carp, popular with diners – have been located on the maze-like lake, the boats deploy massive nets devised by Ye, some up to several kilometres long.
