Fish Harvesting and Fish Parasitology Course












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            * Fish Harvesting and Fish Parasitology Course
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            As a Biology Erasmus student at Charles University, I was given the option to attend the u

            “Field Course in Fish Parasitology”. The course takes place outside of Prague, at the Fiel
            Ruda by Veselí nad Lužnicí which is in South Bohemia. Organised and run by Dr. Libor Mikeš
            Professor Jan Votýpka, we were invited to watch the traditional Czech carp harvesting and 

            dissections to observe the parasites of the fish.
            With no knowledge of Czech traditions, I was surprised to learn that fried carp with potat
            national Christmas dish of the Czech Republic. ‘Výlov rybníku’ (fish harvesting) has occur

            in the Czech Republic for hundreds of years. Each Christmas the harvested carp can be boug
            mongers that appear on Czech streets a few days before the 24th December, selling the live

            barrels.
            This large scale fishing industry has existed in the Czech Republic since the 14th century
            the fish industry was probably 16th century when highly skilled builders were commissioned

            ponds that could be stocked to feed the nation.
            The method of harvesting involves partially draining the man-made fish ponds to push the f
            deepest areas. Fishing boats can then use a net to easily catch and pull the fish to the s

            handheld nets and buckets are used to transport the catch into the waiting storage units.
            To be quite honest, having to wake up at four in the morning was not what I expected to do
            year. I packed every piece of warm clothing I owned and left my hall of residence for one 

            trams. Meeting a Spanish girl in my hall of residence lift at this early hour, we quickly 
            be spending the day together as classmates. With the sun not yet risen we travelled togeth
            sleeping city to our arranged collection point and waited for our professors to arrive.

            The early wake-up call was absolutely necessary, as we had to travel 120 km to reach the p
            course took place.  Although the day was overcast drizzly and cold, the grey colours of th
            still really beautiful. Already stalls selling beer and dried or live fish were set up and

            buzzing with activity. School children, news crews as well as locals and traditionally dre
            and women were all present and an aurora of excitement was in the misty air.
            As the crowd stood around the water edge, we watched as the fishing boats worked together 

            net and bring the fish back to the shore. Keeping the boats in a tight circle, the net ser
            underwater basket that is full of squirming fish. Silver buckets are floated around the ci
            fisherman places fish into it and when full it is carried away to the truck waiting on the

            The course is for both Erasmus and Czech students. Besides myself, all the other Erasmus s
            participating this year were Spanish - so the spare time was spent learning various handy 
            As we spent the cold morning sharing English and Spanish biscuits, the teachers collected 

            specimens that we would later be dissecting. They arrived with two large bags full of fish
            the Field Biology Station to begin our experiments.
            With all collected fish specimens placed into an old bathtub and wheelbarrow, we were prep

            events. Speaking in both Czech and English, the atmosphere was relaxed as our lesson plan 
            The aim of our experiment was to find and identify different species of parasites that wer
            and inside the fishes. Exploring inside their gills and intestines we found tapeworms, lic

            partially digested fish inside the stomach of another. At the same time, a man and woman s
            gutting and preparing the fish into fillets after they had removed the gills and intestine
            study. From our arrival to leaving they did not stop working and eventually scrubbed the b

            scales from their workbench; leaving several buckets of fish ready to be fried.
            As we waited for our tutors to finish preparing a fresh fish dinner we spoke with the Czec
            were planning to stay overnight. Their new plans were to eat fish and listen to their frie

            as they spent the night in the Biology Station. We, sadly, had to return to Prague. After 
            fallen asleep on the long journey home, we finally arrived home to Hostivař Hall with the 
            ending a long and strange day full of extraordinary experiences!
                                                                                                      
            Isabel Harris is in her second year studying for a BSc in Applied Biology at Northumbria U
            exciting biology news, reading and music. iForum gave her the chance to travel within the 
            anybody would consider doing iForum because it is full of opportunity!