Mali Fishing Video: Fishermen Clear Lake In Minutes

Everyone loves something they can't have, even if it's a wriggling fish in the mouth.

At least that's true for the Dogon people of Mali, who restrict fishing in the sacred Lake Antogo to once a year. On the appointed day, fishermen line up to rush the lake with baskets, clearing the entire lake in moments, reports the BBC.

In the amazing video below, watch the fishermen descend on the lake, holding the fish in baskets and even their mouths during the frenzy.

Comments

[DrFunkenstein22]

01:42 AM on 02/01/2011

I feel bad for the guy who doesn't get any fish.

"B b b but he told me not to fish in his space!"

And everywhere he went for the whole next year people would see him and say "Oh, look. Here comes Johnny No Fish!"

...the shame of it all.

[sharpstick]

10:57 AM on 02/01/2011

Yeah I bet you know how he feels except you have no idea what people are saying about you.

[DrFunkenstein22]

02:11 PM on 02/01/2011

You really are the biggest tro// in HuffPost nation. Here's an idea: why don't you take your pathetic little hurt feelings and MOVE ON!

[b1986]

01:09 PM on 01/27/2011

It seems a little strange that we are observing this from a crane operated camera. You think they could have lugged a few tonnes of food down there if they're willing to spend money shipping all the equipment needed to get these camera shots.

[KarateKid]

06:45 PM on 01/26/2011

I would love to put about 5000 piranha in that lake. They'd take care of those fishermen in minutes.

[RVLady]

08:37 PM on 01/28/2011

you suck

[KarateKid]

08:56 PM on 01/28/2011

What part of you would you like me to suck?

[bcgd]

06:13 PM on 01/26/2011

Whos got the time machine BBC?

[raviandsonia]

05:27 PM on 01/26/2011

I would love to send all these great fisherman over to FOX.

[Howie1960]

05:03 PM on 01/26/2011

That's the size of decent stock tank in Texas. How BBC calls this a "lake" is bewildering.

[devildog21]

04:11 PM on 01/26/2011

I will never take for granted the ease with which I can get fish at the grocery store again. I can't say I'd like to put this event on my bucket list either. Not sure if we were seeing the whole picture in this short clip, but from what we can see, this "lake" would not even qualify for large pond status in Wisconsin.

[lincutious]

03:54 PM on 01/26/2011

“This festival is annual. The lake completely dries up every year, slating any fish left in it from the seasonal river flooding to a death by overheatin­g and suffocatio­n. This festival is actually something that allows the locals to gain more by waiting until the right time so they can harvest the most fish. Stop, wait a year, repeat.
The cycle of nature is one that we cannot be removed from. Our unique ability to dominate over nature merely means that we need to consciousl­­y and aggressive­­ly ensure the sustainabi­­lity of our species by ensuring it for the rest of nature. When I see these folks harvesting these fish I do not see wanton destructio­­n and abusive consumptio­­n as in shark finning or even the brutality of factory farming. Humanity as a natural animal must fit into nature with balance and harmony. That does not mean we all turn vegan and free all the animals, nor does it mean that we should continue with the one sided raping of nature and the delicate balance it had prior to our dominance of it. Simply struggling for the rights of animals, while honorable and good; is not enough, and will not produce a solution in and of itself. Sustainabl­­e methods of feeding humanity are required in order to bring the balance back. Once our mother is in balance, we too will be, everything is tied together, nothing is truly isolated.”

[Fredday]

03:24 PM on 01/26/2011

I wouldn't mind this if that pond had been full of starving piranha. At least they would have had a fair shot. :P

[RVLady]

08:39 PM on 01/28/2011

you suck, why don't you try reading about that tribe-hater

[BlackBuddha]

02:52 PM on 01/26/2011

Michelle Bachmann:

"This is a clear example of

Over- Regulation.

If fishing were allowed everyday,

there would be many, many more fish."

[johnnygoodwud]

05:12 PM on 01/25/2011

sad, very sad

[StansDad]

01:24 PM on 01/25/2011

crops?

[aphextwin07]

10:44 AM on 01/25/2011

mind-boggling pandemonium

[Walter Westcot]

09:38 AM on 01/25/2011

that's scary.... think of what people will do to the oceans.

TOO MANY PEOPLE>... too few of everything else.

[cromag]

03:29 PM on 01/25/2011

Not will, but are.
Too many people breeding like rabbits. This also shows the copmplete lack of any concept of sustainability.

How long until the Japanese hoover up the last bluefin?

[cromag]

04:05 PM on 01/25/2011

or even this
http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/life/china-create-worlds-largest-city-603874?pi=pi

[PaddockGirl]

12:36 PM on 01/26/2011

or even the last eel!

[TumTiTum]

09:13 AM on 01/25/2011

This is not a news "report". This is an excerpt from a beautifully filmed new BBC documentary series about how people live in particular environments, this episode was desert themed.

[Angie Daniels]

03:15 PM on 01/25/2011

Where does it air? Is it BBC America? I like BBC documentaries.

[TumTiTum]

07:58 AM on 01/26/2011

It will eventually.
This fishing event happens once a year in that sacred lake. It was just one of a variety of different desert scenes of life from different cultures.
The series is about man's capacity for adaptation to seemingly extreme environments, water, ice, deserts, etc.