Net making

Historically nets were used for fishing and animal trapping. Today, hand-knitted nets are are rarely used for fishing (instead, industrially produced sheet netting is used), a notable exception being the hand-knitted nets used by the Black Rock Lave Net Heritage Fishery in Wales. Hand-knitted nets are still used for pest control and for sport, such as ferreting for rabbits. Today, there are very few commercial net makers – but there are many makers knitting nets as a hobby and for their own use.

Purse net making in particular is strong and popular, carried out on a small scale by many people for their own use and local sales. No large scale commercial hand making. Long net making is less common.

• purse nets (for rabbits)
• fox nets
• gate nets
• long nets
• lave nets

• There has been a marked reduction in rabbit populations over the last couple of years – if this continues many net makers will stop.
• Availability of materials.
• Viability of the sport these nets support, i.e. ferreting.
• A change in the law could end it.
• The internet and YouTube have been a huge help in documenting and transferring the skills.

No formal organisations – but plenty of Facebook sites and YouTube channels

• M and L Nets – Fourth generation net making company