As harvest season kicks off in Chaiyi, fishers take creative measures to tackle an unexpected hazard- flying fish.
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In Chiayi County, Taiwan’s leading producer of milkfish and tilapia, the harvest season is in full swing, which means fishers are wrangling with thousands of energetic fish as they leap up out of the water.
To avoid getting hit, one fisher came up with an innovative solution. He now wears a custom-made safety helmet, reinforced with wire mesh, while fishing from his raft.
Locals joked that he probably forgot to remove his helmet after doing something else. Another said they had seen something similar on TV before.
One fisher explains that as the fish get scared, they start jumping, and if you can't dodge them in time, then you might get hit. Chiayi County Fisheries Agency Division Chief Chang Chien-cheng (張建成) adds that once they’re startled, the fish leap and fly in all directions. He says that it’s like being hit by mini rocket launchers, and so some fishermen wear helmets to protect themselves.
So while it may look a little odd to see a fisherman in full headgear, in Chiayi, it’s just another day on the job.