What are 39 Estonian fishermen doing in Glencaple, Caerlaverock?
Karl Savege of the Nith Estuary Haaf Net Fishers Association got in touch to let us know about the Estonian fishermens’ visit today (Friday 19th May). The fishermen have come to Scotland to learn about the history of fishing, the traditional fishing methods used and the cultural aspects of fishing in Scotland.
As the Solway is the last place in the world still practising Haaf Netting, Caerlaverock is an excellent first stop on their busy itinerary!
They will be visiting Anstruther next, then on to Aberdeen before heading over to the west coast.
We put our roving reporters hats on to meet the party at Big Rock – just south of Glencaple – but unfortunately we heard that their flight from Estonia had been delayed, and they were stuck in traffic just outside Biggar on their way here!
A wee cup of tea later, and, though we unfortunately couldn’t make it back to meet the fishermen, we heard from Tom Brown, about their successful visit…
It turns out that they had been on the go since about 3am, so weary travellers, but very receptive to Tom’s demonstration and information. Although most spoke some English, there was an interpreter, Kirsty, to help. Some of the group (which included wives and partners) fish on inland lakes catching perch and pike – so quite different to the haaf netting on the Nith!
Karl and Sam Armstrong went into the river, at the Big Rock, to show the haaf netting technique – Karl caught a sea trout!
A great success!
The group are staying the night at the Cairndale Hotel, and will be away all day tomorrow – on Jim Henderson’s fishing boat – then to Port William lifeboat and the Maritime museum in Whithorn. They will finish at the Galloway smokehouse in Carsluith and Karl is hoping to join them again in the evening.
There are real fears that Haaf Netting is a dying art… Haaf netting dates back thousands of years to the introduction by Viking invaders, ‘haaf’ is the Norse word for channel, or sea. There just aren’t the young folk needed taking to the river – if there’s not a renewed interest, the skills will be lost forever.
Tom was presented with this chopping board – he’s yet to decipher the writing! Karl received a baseball cap, but we have no photographic evidence of that…
Look out for more photos of the visit – coming soon!