‘Once it’s gone, it’s gone’: the last coracle fishers
The loss of traditional and very localised boat building in many corners of the world is perhaps a reality that we are going to have to learn to live with. Across the pacific time honoured boat construction (and sailing) skills are disappearing due to dwindling fish stocks and the pressure of invasive species …often the ubiquitous fibreglass banana boat with a diesel outboard. And who are we to judge? If your family’s wellbeing relies on efficient water transport, then a outboard trumps a hessian sail every day.
But its interesting to note that this pressure is not confined to the developing world. As this sad a beatifully photographed article by Oliver Berry in this weeks Guardian Newspaper points explains-
How dwindling fish stocks and new regulations are killing off the ancient tradition
Aaron Walters goes coracle fishing. Photograph: John Laurie/The Guardian
Dusk is falling on the Teifi as Len Walters and his son, Aaron, prepare for another night’s fishing. They check off their gear – gumboots, head torch, priest, drift net – before slinging their most essential bit of kit over their backs: a coracle, crafted by hand from willow, hazel and calico.
“The design on each river is different,” Len whispers, trudging down to the darkening riverbank. “The Teifi coracles are different to the Tywi ones, as we have faster water and more rapids. But they’re built the same as in the old days, only we don’t use cowhide any more because it’s too bloody heavy.”
Without a sound, the two men float their coracles and glide on to the water, steering one-handed with ash paddles using a figure-of-eight stroke. They drop the net, their torches blink out, and then they are off, disappearing into blackness downstream.