Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing technique in which fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish in rivers. Historically, cormorant fishing has taken place in China and Japan, as well as Greece, North Macedonia, and briefly, England and France. It is first attested as a method used by the ancient Japanese in the Book of Sui, the official history of the Sui Dynasty of China, completed in 636 CE. Though cormorant fishing once was a successful enterprise, its primary use today is to serve the tourism industry. This artisan fishing method is no longer used anywhere except southwestern China, where it is also under threat from competition from more modern methods. To control the birds, the fishermen tie a loose snare near the base of the bird's throat. The snare does not stop the bird from swallowing small fish, but prevents the bird from swallowing larger fish, which are held temporarily in their gullet. When a cormorant has caught a fish in its throat, the fisherman brings the bird back to the boat and has it regurgitate the fish out. The types of cormorants used differ based on the location. Chinese fishermen often employ great cormorants (P. carbo). In Gifu, Japan, the Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) is used. Darters (birds in the genus Anhinga), which are close relatives of cormorants, are also used for this fishing technique on occasion. China In Guilin, Guangxi, cormorant birds are famous for fishing on the shallow Lijiang River. Elsewhere in southern China, the Bai people have utilized cormorant fishing since the 9th century on the banks of Erhai Lake. Traditionally practised for sustenance, cormorant fishing is now primarily performed for tourists. Japan Cormorant fishing in Japan is called (鵜飼) in Japanese. Originally, it was done as one of the main fishing methods for ayu(sweetfish) fishing. However, since it is "unique" (as it uses birds and skillful techniques), viewing cormorant fishing, since the Heian period, has been one of amusements for aristocratic classes and warlords in Japan. Oda Nobunaga started showing cormorant fishing for hospitality in Japan. In 1568, Oda Nobunaga, welcoming a messenger from Takeda Shingen, made a new boat and invited the messenger as a guest to show cormorant fishing. In addition, he chose ayu (sweetfish) with his own eyes and sent it to the guest as a gift at a later date. Tokugawa Ieyasu, after the Summer Campaign (1615) of Siege of