Fish weir

A static structure built to capture fish in coastal or estuarine areas. The weir consisted of two stone or wood walls, often constructed in a ‘v’ shape. The narrowest point of the ‘v’ was at the seaward end and it was here that nets or traps were attached. As the tide went down the fish were forced to swim up the ‘v’ and were eventually funnelled into the nets or traps and caught. The same type of structures and principles could also be used to catch fish in rivers. Fish weirs date to the medieval and post medieval periods and there are of some that continue in use to the present day.