{{Short description|Ancient British fishing technique}} {{about|the ancient fishing technique|the small Shetland island|Haaf Gruney}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} [[File:Haaf Net Fishermen, Solway Estuary - geograph.org.uk - 612827.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Haaf net fishermen walking out across the [[mudflats]] to fish in the [[Solway Firth]]]] '''Haaf net fishing''' is an ancient type of [[salmon]] and [[sea trout]] net fishing practised in [[Great Britain|Britain]], and is particularly associated with the [[Solway Firth]], the [[estuary]] forming part of the border between [[England]] and [[Scotland]]. The technique involves fishermen standing chest-deep in the sea and using large submerged framed nets to scoop up fish that swim towards them. It is a form of fishing that is believed to have been brought to Britain by the [[Vikings]] more than a thousand years ago and to have been practised in the Solway Firth since then.
The number of haaf net fishermen has dwindled over the last 50 years and the activity has been restricted by [[salmon conservation]] measures. The haaf net fishing community has campaigned for exemptions from these restrictions and for protection as an ancient cultural activity.
==Etymology and history== Haaf net fishing is a type of [[salmon]] and [[sea trout]] fishing<ref name= Cramb>{{cite news |first= Auslan |last=Cramb |title= 'Viking' salmon fishery under threat from new laws |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2547445/Viking-salmon-fishery-under-threat-from-new-laws.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=12 August 2008 |access-date=24 January 2008}}</ref> which is practised in [[South West Scotland]] and [[North West England]].<ref name="Crisp2008">{{cite book|first=Trevor |last=Crisp|title=Trout and Salmon: Ecology, Conservation and Rehabilitation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zkAk-9-BzVwC&pg=PA8|date=2008|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-99976-9|pages=8–9}}</ref> The word ''haaf'' is derived from the [[Old Norse]] for “open sea”.<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/18/haaf-netting-lune-fighting-big-fish-country-diary|title=Haaf netting on the Lune: 'Fighting a big fish really gets the adrenaline going'|first=Karen|last=Lloyd|date=18 September 2017|access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref> The technique has its origins in the [[Viking Age]].<ref name="Scott2014">{{cite book|first=Allen J. |last=Scott|title=Solway Country: Land, Life and Livelihood in the Western Border Region of England and Scotland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5eymBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA76|date=2014|publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing|isbn=978-1-4438-7140-2|pages=76–77}}</ref> It is believed to have been brought to Scotland by the [[Vikings]] around 900 A.D.<ref name=bbc>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-51124288|title=Fight to save 1,000-year-old fishing technique|first=Jonathan|last=Peters|date=21 January 2020|publisher=BBC News|access-date=22 January 2020}}</ref> In the 1870s, one of the government's Inspectors of Salmon Fisheries, [[Spencer Walpole]], reported that haaf net fishing was taking place in the [[estuaries]] of the [[River Lune|Lune]] and [[River Ribble|Ribble]] in [[Lancashire]], and in the [[Severn Estuary]] in [[South West England]].<ref name="Trade1873">{{cite book|first=Spencer|author-link=Spencer Walpole|last=Walpole|chapter=Mr Walpole’s Seventh Report|publisher=Board of Trade, Great Britain|title=12th Annual Report of the Inspectors of Salmon Fisheries (England and Wales)|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JSEtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA88|year=1873|page=88}}</ref> [[File:Haaf nets - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Haaf fishing nets]] Haaf net fishing is now unique to the [[Solway Firth]], where it has been practised for over a thousand years.<ref name= Cramb/><ref name=bbcarchive>{{Cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/haaf-netting/zrtvhbk |title= Haaf Netting |publisher=BBC Archive|access-date=22 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.dgculture.co.uk/event/haaf-net-history/ |title= Haaf Net History|work=DG Culture|publisher= [[Dumfries and Galloway Council]]|access-date=22 January 2020|quote= Unique to the inner Solway, haaf netting has been practised in Annan for over a thousand years.}}</ref> There are similarities with [[lave net]] fishing, practised in the [[Severn estuary]], where the fishermen stand waist deep in the water with large Y-shaped nets. However, unlike lave netters, haaf net fishermen remain stationary in the water.<ref>{{cite book |last= Smylie|first=Mike |title=A Short History of Britain's Fisheries |year=2023 |isbn= 978-1-39906-954-0|publisher= Pen & Sword|pages= 44–45|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iXfaEAAAQBAJ}}</ref>
In the 1970s, there were over 100 haaf net fishermen based in towns such as [[Annan, Dumfries and Galloway|Annan]] or [[Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway|Gretna]] making a good living. From the 1980s, the economics of fishing with haaf nets meant that numbers have significantly reduced with only 30 individuals currently practising the technique.<ref name=bbc/>
On the Scottish side of the Firth, since 2016, the [[Scottish Government]] has introduced salmon conservation measures resulting in haaf net fishermen being required to [[Catch and release|release alive any salmon they catch]].<ref name=bbc/> The English side of the Firth is regulated by the [[Environment Agency]] which, after a consultation process, introduced similar restrictions in 2018.<ref name=star>{{cite news |title= Haaf netters say new salmon fishing proposals could put an end to ancient art |url= https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/16698223.video-haaf-netters-say-new-salmon-fishing-proposals-could-put-an-end-to-ancient-art/|first=Pam|last=McClounie|newspaper= [[News and Star]]|date=28 January 2018 |access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cumbriacrack.com/2018/05/25/new-salmon-and-sea-trout-protection-byelaws-for-the-solway-border-esk-and-river-eden-rod-fishery/ |title= New salmon and sea trout protection byelaws for the Solway, Border Esk and River Eden rod fishery |date= 25 May 2018|publisher=Cumbria Crack |access-date=27 January 2020}}</ref>
As a consequence, the Solway’s haaf net community believes the survival of their traditions is threatened and is seeking exemptions from these requirements and official recognition that haaf netting should be protected as a culturally important and historic activity.<ref name=bbc/><ref name=herald>{{cite news |title= Scottish Government pours cold water on Solway Firth's ancient haaf netters |url= https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18193233.scottish-government-pours-cold-water-solway-firths-ancient-haaf-netters/ |newspaper= The Herald|date=29 January 2020 |access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> In response, [[Marine Scotland]], the Scottish Government agency responsible for fish conservation, has said that the issue is that the salmon stocks of the Firth of Solway feed into rivers with differing levels of salmon sustainability and some of the rivers have low levels. Because the Firth is therefore classified as a “mixed stock fishery”, they cannot permit retention of any salmon caught.<ref name=herald/>
==Equipment and technique== The net used has the appearance of a giant [[butterfly net]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7549947.stm |title= Haaf netters fear for fishing's future |first= Raymond|last= Buchanan|date= 12 August 2008|publisher= BBC News|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref> It is set in a rectangular wooden frame usually about {{convert|4–5|m|ft}} long and {{convert|2|m|ft}} wide supported by three legs. A central pole extends from one of the longer edges at a right angle.<ref name="Scott2014"/><ref name=bbc/>
Haaf net fishing is practised by the fishermen wading out into the sea. In the Solway Firth, this can mean walking out over [[mudflats]] for up to one mile. Once in the sea, they position themselves and wait for the tide to [[Tide#Characteristics|ebb or flood]]. The depth of the water can be up to chest height.<ref name=bbc/><ref name=Roy>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news-2-15012/roy-lytollis-at-large-fearless-fishermen-won-t-let-viking-birthright-slip-the-net-1-1300841|first=Roy |last=Lytollis|date= 1 November 2008 |title=Fearless fishermen won't let Viking birthright slip the net|newspaper=The Scotsman|access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref>
The technique involves the haaf net being submerged in the water, while the fisherman holds it upright with the central pole. When a salmon swims into the net the fisherman tilts the pole backwards to scoop the net upwards, thereby trapping the fish.<ref name="Scott2014"/> The fisherman then kills the fish by clubbing it.<ref name=Roy/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.visitcumbria.com/haaf-netting-in-cumbria/ Visit Cumbria - Haaf Netting in Cumbria] *[http://haafnettersfishing.co.uk/ Solway Haaf Netters Association] *[https://www.annan.org.uk/haaf-netting/downloads/Haaf-Net-Information-Booklet-01-Haaf-Netting-Information.pdf Haaf Netting Information] from The Royal Burgh of Annan Community Council *[https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/fisheries/border-esk-river-eden-and-solway-firth-2018/supporting_documents/Environment%20Agency%20Limitation%20of%20Solway%20Firth%20Heave%20or%20Haaf%20Net%20Fishing%20Licences%20Order%202018%20as%20sealed%20151217.pdf The Environment Agency (Limitation of Solway Firth Heave or Haaf Net Fishing Licences) Order 2018] {{Fishing techniques}} [[Category:Fishing techniques and methods]] [[Category:Fishing nets]] [[Category:Solway Firth]]