A fishery is a large, fixed fish trap located on theforeshore. There are wooden fisheries between Agon-Coutainville and Bréville-sur-Mer, and stone ones between Bréville and Jullouville. They were built using the materials available locally.
Destination Granville Terre et Mer’s foreshore fisheries date back to the 15th century, according to archaeologist Cyrille Billard, but wooden piles dating back to the 11th century have also been found. Our destination, the land of Europe’s highest tides, is ideal for fishing.
They are shaped like a large V pointing out to sea, with the two arms of the fishery open towards the shore. When the sea recedes, the fish are trapped in the tip. The fisherman holds the water in the fishery by means of a door, and in front of the door slides a square, a wooden frame to which a sock-shaped net tied at the end is attached. During fishing, this square is slid in front of the door, holding back the water, and when the fishermen lift the door, the fish rush into the net. When the net is full, the knot is untied and the fish are emptied into thegranite trough for sorting. We keep the big, legal fish and let the little ones go. Two hours before low tide, the fishermen collect the fish.
