Page 51 - Book-TradiAliCulture-Belgium

This artisanal fishing
technique requires a good
knowledge of the animal, the sea
as well as tides. The fisherman
must have an absolute confidence
in his horse and vice versa. The
fishing lasts about three hours
and takes place twice a week,
except in Winter. It begins an
hour and a half before the first
low tide of the day.

This type of fishing is rather
family-oriented because from
generation to generation, men train
their children to use horses while
women usually take care of cooking
the shrimps. Today only about ten
families still practicing this style of
fishing.

This activity, previously used as a livelihood for fishermen, has become mainly
a tourist attraction. Moreover, since 2013, this particular fishing has been classified
as a cultural and intangible heritage of UNESCO.

Oostduinkerke is the only coastal
city in the entire world to maintain this
tradition in its daily life. This is why the
feast of shrimp fishing is held there once
a year since 1950.

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