Discover the fisheries

On the Breton side, particularly near Cherrueix and Cancale, wooden fisheries were built, while the Normans preferred to use stone to construct their work tools. In all cases, however, the shape and technique remain fundamentally the same: a large V-shaped structure that fills up when the tide rises and traps the fish and shellfish brought in by the sea on the ebb tide. The fishermen then position themselves at the junction of the two branches of the V, open the trapdoor that creates the structure’s dam effect, and “pick” the results of their catch.harvest” their catch using a net previously installed in front of the opening. The choice of building the fisheries in the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel is not insignificant either. The Bay is home to an immense diversity of aquatic species. As well as being a nursery for many local fish, it is also a crossing point for migratory species such as salmon and eels. And with the powerful currents of Europe’s highest tides preventing even the best sailors from going fishing by boat, the Bay’s inhabitants are quick to turn to a technique more suited to these tides, in order to take advantage of the extremely rich resources of this environment. It’s for this reason that Saint-Jean-le-Thomas has traces of fisheries dating back over 4,000 years. Within the Destination area, however, Champeaux is home to the oldest structures, built between the 6th and 9th centuries. The second foundation charter of the Lucerne Abbey, dating from 1162, also attests to a wooden fishery in the commune of Bouillon, now part of Saint-Pair-sur-Mer. Archaeological research in the surrounding area shows that many of the fisheries built before the 17th century used wood for their construction, a relatively inexpensive and easily accessible material.

However, the vast majority of the region’s fisheries built after the 18th century featured a more solid stone structure. This change was due to a number of royal decrees and orders issued from the 1680s onwards, imposing stricter controls on fishing on foot. The majority of fisheries still visible today on the Destination are therefore dry-stone built, without the use of cement or mortar to bind the devices. Legislation established in 1681 also required the use of a sufficiently wide net, allowing juvenile and undersized fish to pass through the mesh. Despite numerous inspections, however, few fishermen complied with these net sizes, earning the ire of other seafaring professionals. Since the 17th century, pedestrians have been accused of destroying resources by failing to control the species they catch. The facilities’ trapping system means that all kinds of fish and crustaceans, both adult and juvenile, end up trapped in the fisheries, and fishermen are only able to sort them out when the trap is open. Added to this is the absence of quotas, leading to overfishing and accusations of unfair competition by boat fishermen. Despite these disagreements, the pedestrian fishermen will continue their non-selective fishing practices. A sort of symbolic pied-de-nez directed not only at the sailors, but also at the legislation of 1681, which offered a highly ambiguous status to the men and women exploiting the fisheries. Although considered professional fishermen, they are not registered with the class system, an administrative listing system for all those involved in the fishing industry. As a result, they do not enjoy the same benefits as other professionals. For a long time to come, foot fishermen were to suffer from their special status. It wasn’t until May 11, 2001 that they finally had an official administrative status, 320 years after the first legislation, and at a time when very few professional foot fishermen were still active.

Today, fishing on foot has become a leisure activity. Extremely strict quotas, and the need to respect “seasons” for certain species, mean that fishing is no longer a profitable activity. For this reason, some unused fisheries have fallen into disuse. The natural silting-up of the Bay of Mont Saint-Michel has also led to the disappearance of some of these structures. There is therefore a great deal of conservation work to be done to preserve the know-how associated with the region’s fisheries. Fortunately, several associations are now working to ensure that this heritage continues to exist. In Granville, for example, the fishery opposite Plat Gousset is managed by theassociation of Friends of the Tranchée Fishery. And in Saint-Pair-sur-Mer, four of the fisheries are still privately owned and managed by local families. It’s possible to visit these fisheries and discover this ancestral know-how. Xavier Huet, operator of the “Garnier” fishery in Saint-Pair-sur-Mer, regularly organizes outings for individuals and schools.