Friday February 22, 2013
Fishing in Mekong cities looks a bit different than catching fish in rural villages. During a recent visit to Cambodia to train local researchers (see Makeshift lab), FISHBIO staff spotted some anglers trying their luck along the banks of the Mekong River in the capital city of Phnom Penh. To our surprise, one was ready to slip a cockroach onto his hook to lure ‘em in. Although other animals ususally come to mind when we think of “bait” in the U.S. (see Baitfish), the resourceful use of this hardy pest makes sense in an urban hub of 1.5 million people. Since fish of any size can be used for food, why waste one for bait when there are plenty of scurrying insects that no one would miss? If you’re not squeamish, this looks like more fun than hiring an exterminator.
