Every morning in Huanchaco before the sun rises - when the waves aren't too rough - members of its Association of Artisanal Fishermen gather to head out as a group. Their ancestors have been doing this for thousands of years. But this may be the last generation that does so. Their children just aren't interested in fishing anymore, as it does not provide the kind of living demanded by modern times. These fishermen don't earn a living from it either, but do so because they enjoy it and it's their heritage. Some offer rides to tourists on their caballitos. But their children and grandchildren are all busy with other jobs and have pursued other options elsewhere. Fishing here has also become more difficult due to offshore commercial fishing and changing ocean currents.
Each fisherman has two caballitos so that they might have time to dry between outings. The fishermen still use bamboo paddles just as their ancestors have used for thousands of years.
While the methods haven't changed much, the materials have. Fishermen use nylon nets to catch fish, a mix of species that don't have much value in larger markets. The fishermen's catch is typically sold to people on the beach when they return later in the morning, in small local markets, or kept for their families.
