Fishing for shrimp from horses

@JudyEv (384457)
Rockingham, Australia
May 23, 2026 12:56am CST
I was intrigued to find several articles about shrimp fishing in Oostduinkerke, Belgium, where they ride heavy draft horses into shallow water to catch brown shrimp. The horse breeds mentioned were Brabaçon, Brabant and Belgian Draft. We saw all these breeds in France when we visited a place that was devoted to heavy horses. It seems Oostduinkerke is now the only place to carry on this centuries-old tradition, although families on the North Sea coast including those in Germany, England, France, practised such fishing from the 16th century to after World War II. The practice was recognised by UNESCO in 2014 and placed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A funnel-shaped net is used, held open by two planks. The nets measure 7 x 10 metres (23 x 33 ft) so strong horses are needed to tow the net through the water. One source said a chain is dragged over the sand causing the shrimp to jump from the sea-bed and be caught in the net. The other source said the horses’ hooves disturb the shrimp. Both sound pretty logical. So who out there likes shrimp? The photo is from Wikimedia and is by Gertjan R. Note the collars on the horses which make it easier for them to pull a heavy load.
17 people like this
17 responses
@Ronrybs (21630)
• London, England
23 May
Is there nothing horses can't do! Always a fan of historical methods
2 people like this
• United Kingdom
23 May
I’ve never seen them play cards.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
People got along quite well before mechanisation. Things got done but it just took a bit/lot longer.
@Ronrybs (21630)
• London, England
23 May
@Orson_Kart Really! They are terrible gamblers
2 people like this
@rakski (157931)
• Philippines
23 May
Never knew that they had this kind of practice
2 people like this
@rakski (157931)
• Philippines
23 May
@JudyEv yes, me too
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
I would love to be able to watch them working.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (191277)
• Boise, Idaho
23 May
There are some handsome bigger breeds. Many workers are probably to have had them help with heavy work.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (191277)
• Boise, Idaho
24 May
@JudyEv ........several breeds of horses were down through history.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
These breeds were indispensiable before mechanisation took over.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 May
That's interesting and amazing at the same time. I never thought a horse could help people fishing some shrimp.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
I was very intrigued too.
@LadyDuck (504252)
• Italy
23 May
This practice dates back several centuries and it's unique in the world. In 2013 has been listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Those are very strong horses.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (504252)
• Italy
23 May
I would love to see them bringing those shrimps on the beach.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
It would be hard work pulling the net through the sea.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (59365)
• Portugal
24 May
So interesting! I would like to see them live.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
It would be great to see them working.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (59365)
• Portugal
24 May
@JudyEv yes, it would.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169991)
• United States
24 May
I have never heard of that before, but your picture certainly stirred up my curiosity.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
When they take the nets out, the photos look even more stranges. This is from an old magazine and in the public domain.
@rsa101 (41395)
• Philippines
23 May
This method of harvesting or catching shrimp in the open seas is remarkably unique and likely holds significant cultural and historical value, as it may be an ancient practice passed down through generations. Preserving such a technique is important not only for its heritage but also because it could contribute to sustainable fishing practices, helping to protect shrimp populations from overharvesting and ensuring the long-term health of marine ecosystems.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
It's certainly an age-old practice. I agree that it could contribute to sustainable fishing.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (210446)
• United States
24 May
Gee, I never heard of such a thing.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
It would be interesting to see these fisherfolk working with their horses.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (8401)
• United Kingdom
23 May
I’ve never seen such a thing. Congrats on spelling “Oostduinkerke”. That’s quite an achievement in itself!
1 person likes this
• United Kingdom
23 May
@JudyEv Ditto!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
I'll let you into a secret. I copied and pasted it!
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117629)
• El Paso, Texas
23 May
That's so interesting. It amazes me how we turned away from nature just to embrace machines. It's sad if you ask me, the natural way is always the best but I suppose with 8 billion hungary people on our planet machines could be necessary to obtain food for all of us.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117629)
• El Paso, Texas
23 May
It really is a shame @JudyEv but they call it progress
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
I'm sure you're right. The old way of doing things probably wouldn't work nowadays. In fact, I'm sure it wouldn't. My Dad would plough 5 acres in a day with horses but they'd do at least ten times that now.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (87579)
• United States
24 May
I’m allergic to shrimp (found that out the hard way when I ate some when I was a teenager), so none for me. That is fascinating, though, that people would think to use horses instead of boats. Of course, I’m sure the horses are less noisy than the motor on a boat would be!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (87579)
• United States
24 May
@JudyEv — oh, yes, the shallowness of the water right along the shoreline. I didn’t even think about that…must be time for bed! (Nearly 2 AM here…it IS! )
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
It would be too shallow I think for motor-boats. The horses might go chest-deep but no deeper.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (137213)
• Marion, Ohio
23 May
Never heard of that. I don't eat any seafood
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
The traditional practices of other cultures are very interesting. I enjoyed learning about this.
1 person likes this
23 May
Interesting indeed I had neither heard or seen anything like this before I read your post
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
I happened to see a photo of it so went digging a bit further.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 May
That's interesting and amazing at the same time, never thought a horse can help people to get shrimp.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
Yes, it's a bit different. Horses have a lot of uses really.
@franxav (14602)
• India
23 May
That it is honoured as cultural heritage, is something very special.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
Yes, it must be regarded as something very unique to be honoured in this way.
@LindaOHio (223686)
• United States
23 May
I think that would be very cold for the horses. This is the first I've heard of this practice. I don't care for shrimp. I like clam strips, crab, bay scallops and lobster.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (384457)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
I like most seafood. I love scallops and lobster in particular.
1 person likes this