Fisherman Yang Shaogui and his wife return from a day's work as the sun sets. Photo: IC

Fisherman Yang Shaogui and his wife Tai Juying live on a boat in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. For decades they have floated on the Beijing-Hangzhou grand canal and fished for a living.

The thousand-year-old canal provides them with a living environment and a source of income. Before coming to the canal, Yang fished in lakes nearby.

Yang represents the fifth generation of his family who has fished to make a livelihood. In his village near the canal, 80 percent of the residents have this profession at peak times. However, as fish farms have developed quickly, aggravated by the slowing fish resources in the canal, Yang has been focusing on shrimp for the past several years.

But now the shrimp harvest is also dwindling, due to the worsening environment. They set up nets in the river at night, and retrieve them in the morning. Tai then sells their catch at the local market. The daily profit varies from dozens to hundreds of yuan, largely depending on luck.

The younger generations in the village rarely choose this lifestyle due to the low returns, but Yang has no plans to leave the canal which is now flanked by new buildings, as he has lived this way all his life and doesn't know what else to do. He said that fishermen like himself are also connected with the local environment on an emotional level, and they may well be the last fishing community living off canals in this region.

Global Times

Tai Juying collects shrimp on his boat. Photo: IC

 

Tai Juying puts their catch on sale at a local market. Photo: IC

Yang Shaogui returns to their houseboat on the canal. Photo: IC

 

The couple rows the boat on the canal in Yangzhou. Photo: IC

Tai Juying prepares a meal while waiting for her husband. Photo: IC