Tourism keeps traditional horseback shrimp fishing alive on Belgian coast

AFP English

Clad head to toe in yellow oilskins, atop a horse near the North Sea, Gunther Vanbleu is helping to keep traditional horseback shrimp fishing alive in Belgium. On UNESCO's intangible heritage list, it was once practiced around Europe. Now Oostduinkerke “is the only place in the world where shrimp fishing is still practiced with horses," says Gunther.

Transcript

00:00It's only here in Ouzoinkerke, that's the only place in the world where they still catch fish with horses on hernals.

00:18It used to be in France, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, but now it's only in Ouzoinkerke that it happens.

00:30Ouzoinkerke, Ouzoinkerke

00:47There is always a lot of interest from the people.

00:50It's unique, people like to see that.

00:54They also like to see a large farmhouse.

00:57It also attracts people.

00:59And then the combination of fish with horses, hernals and everything you can still catch, such as crabs and fish.

01:27Ouzoinkerke, Ouzoinkerke

01:35Maybe when the water gets too hot, the hernals will retreat to the colder water.

01:39That's a possibility, but as far as it will go, we'll see.

01:44Maybe in 30 or 40 years, but now it's not a problem.

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