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Creation of Fishing Nets on the West Coast of the Gulf of Riga (2024)
The craft skills for creation of fishing nets are considered to be fundamental to the cultural and historical heritage and identity of the community, since the craft skills of fishing and creation of fishing nets were for centuries the most important part of the economic activity of coastal communities.
To the Inventory of ICH

Author:

Dace Ziemele, Anita Albert, Jolanta Kraukle, Ingrida Shmushkova

Oral traditions and their expressions, including language as a vehicle of intangible cultural heritage

Traditional craft skills

Title

Creation of Fishing Nets on the West Coast of the Gulf of Riga (2024)

Nowadays, a Community of skilled learners in fishing networking positions can be divided into several groups. The main Community group is the trades proficiency bearers, fishing net makers who worked in fishing net repair shops, fishermen, staff of fishing companies and representatives of the families of coastal fishermen who still have the practical knowledge of the capacity to do fishing nets and who have retained memories of the fishing heritage. Taking into account the socio-economic development directions of the western part of the Gulf of Riga, the populated areas of this territory have a slightly different number of Community participants or craft skills carriers. The fishing traditions of Tukums municipality Lapmezciems and Engures civil parish, Tulsa municipality Mersrags and Rojas civil parish in fishing villages such as Lapforest village, Ragaziema, Burzvillage, Engure, Clapkalnvillage, Mersragh and other villages have been preserved and business activities continue in this area, as well as fishing networking knowledge has been applied. This is where Ligita Sota and Indra Riekstina, fox villager Zelma Cepelevska, fishermen of Lapmezciems village - Uldis Meiers, Edgars Egle, Olafs Apshenieks, Kristaps Silas, villager Ilmars Raginskis, as well as fishermen of Pumpkrags and other fishing villages of Tulsa municipality are mentioned. One of the new generation of trawlers and an enthusiast of his trade is Tom Birznieks. Senior fishermen, among them the foxworm villager Arvid Snape, have retained the necessary skills and skills related to fishing gear, including the making and maintenance of fishing nets. They transfer their knowledge to the new generation. On the other hand, in Jurmala territory, where the most important development direction was the resort, the number of individual fishermen and knowledge of fishing net-making skills is small. However, the skills and knowledge of the positions have been retained by former fishermen's Kolhoz “victory” and employees of the stock company “Gulf of the Sea” gear repair shop Inara Everte and Zoja Milovidova and fisherman Dainis Stahl. As there is currently no rapid development of the fishing industry, this part of the Community is decreasing.

A second important part of the Community of skill knowers in fishing networking positions is the organisers and drivers of the cultural and historical heritage conservation process. They are specialists in the field of cultural and cultural historical heritage – historians, museum employees and creators of historical exhibitions, who operate in Jurmala Museum, Jurmala Museum, Lapmezciems village Museum, Roja Sea Fisheries Museum and the branch of the Roja Sea Fisheries Museum “Kaltene Club”. Cultural heritage centres, associations and tourism entrepreneurs are the organisers and drivers of the heritage preservation process. These include the Apshuciema fishery and cultural Heritage Centre, the Engures Community House, the society “Jurmala Amattories”, the studio “Tukuma weaves”, the Berzciema fishermen's farm “Dienas”, masters of craft skills, as well as the restored sedation of Ragaciema by the local population.

Visitors to museum events, members of masterclasses and other stakeholders who are indirect members of the Community shall also be included in the Community.

Description of the element

Title

Creation of Fishing Nets on the West Coast of the Gulf of Riga (2024)

Community

Nowadays, a Community of skilled learners in fishing networking positions can be divided into several groups. The main Community group is the trades proficiency bearers, fishing net makers who worked in fishing net repair shops, fishermen, staff of fishing companies and representatives of the families of coastal fishermen who still have the practical knowledge of the capacity to do fishing nets and who have retained memories of the fishing heritage. Taking into account the socio-economic development directions of the western part of the Gulf of Riga, the populated areas of this territory have a slightly different number of Community participants or craft skills carriers. The fishing traditions of Tukums municipality Lapmezciems and Engures civil parish, Tulsa municipality Mersrags and Rojas civil parish in fishing villages such as Lapforest village, Ragaziema, Burzvillage, Engure, Clapkalnvillage, Mersragh and other villages have been preserved and business activities continue in this area, as well as fishing networking knowledge has been applied. This is where Ligita Sota and Indra Riekstina, fox villager Zelma Cepelevska, fishermen of Lapmezciems village - Uldis Meiers, Edgars Egle, Olafs Apshenieks, Kristaps Silas, villager Ilmars Raginskis, as well as fishermen of Pumpkrags and other fishing villages of Tulsa municipality are mentioned. One of the new generation of trawlers and an enthusiast of his trade is Tom Birznieks. Senior fishermen, among them the foxworm villager Arvid Snape, have retained the necessary skills and skills related to fishing gear, including the making and maintenance of fishing nets. They transfer their knowledge to the new generation. On the other hand, in Jurmala territory, where the most important development direction was the resort, the number of individual fishermen and knowledge of fishing net-making skills is small. However, the skills and knowledge of the positions have been retained by former fishermen's Kolhoz “victory” and employees of the stock company “Gulf of the Sea” gear repair shop Inara Everte and Zoja Milovidova and fisherman Dainis Stahl. As there is currently no rapid development of the fishing industry, this part of the Community is decreasing.

A second important part of the Community of skill knowers in fishing networking positions is the organisers and drivers of the cultural and historical heritage conservation process. They are specialists in the field of cultural and cultural historical heritage – historians, museum employees and creators of historical exhibitions, who operate in Jurmala Museum, Jurmala Museum, Lapmezciems village Museum, Roja Sea Fisheries Museum and the branch of the Roja Sea Fisheries Museum “Kaltene Club”. Cultural heritage centres, associations and tourism entrepreneurs are the organisers and drivers of the heritage preservation process. These include the Apshuciema fishery and cultural Heritage Centre, the Engures Community House, the society “Jurmala Amattories”, the studio “Tukuma weaves”, the Berzciema fishermen's farm “Dienas”, masters of craft skills, as well as the restored sedation of Ragaciema by the local population.

Visitors to museum events, members of masterclasses and other stakeholders who are indirect members of the Community shall also be included in the Community.

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Importance in Community Life

The skills of fishing networking occupations are considered to be fundamental to the cultural and historical heritage and identity of the Community, since for centuries fishing and fishing networking occupations were the most important part of the economic activity of coastal communities. Nowadays, the skills of fishing networking occupations are maintained and maintained as coastal residents continue to do business in the fishing industry. As technology develops, the making of fishing nets has changed - it takes place industrially using synthetic materials. Fishermen currently mainly buy ready-made nets. It can also be mentioned that prefabricated net mesh is used to make fishing nets and other fishing gear. As a result, traditional fishing net-making skills are losing their weight today. The patching of the nets has remained the same - this is handwork these days too.
As the development of the fishing industry decreases, today the traditional fishing network is maintained as an offer of cultural, cultural and historical heritage and cultural tourism.
However, the importance of fisheries heritage, including the making of fishing nets, in Community life is evidenced by the activities of the cultural and historical bodies associated with the fishing industry on the coast. The Jurmala open-air museum shall ensure the preservation of the fishery heritage, as well as implement Community networking and promotion of skills and knowledge, including demonstration of fishing net patching and rope twisting. The content of the museum's exhibition is related to information on the skills of fishing net-making positions. It covers fishing nets made from natural fibres and the tools used to make them. A remarkable collection of rope-twisting tools and materials has been exhibited at the museum's rope-twisting workshop.
The ragaciema sedge has been dubbed the “living Museum,” where existing netting huts are still used by local fishermen to store gear, including fishing nets. The sedation of the Ragaciema is a meeting place set up by the fishing Community, where evidence of the fishing trades, traditions and lifestyles of the fishing villagers is also preserved today.
At the centre of the exhibition of the Lapforest village Museum is information about fishermen, about the forms of life and work of fishermen in different centuries.
An exhibition of historical objects is located in the fishery and Marine cultural Heritage Centre in Apshuciem of Engures civil parish which summarizes information regarding the daily life of the coastal environment. At the Engure outlet, located in the former Engure Marine School building, both the Engure Marine School and Engures civil parish exhibits can be seen. The Roja Marine Fisheries Museum exhibition tells the history and development of coastal fishing villages.

The Community's willingness to retain the skills of fishing net-making posts is also demonstrated by the fact that demonstration of the making and repair of fishing nets has always been an integral part of coastal fishermen's festivities and the Maritime Celebration. There have also been competitions between the best net bearers or mesh weavers during this festive period. Entrepreneurs in the local Community are also currently actively involved in the conservation and promotion of coastal heritage. Cultural and historical heritage, for example, is preserved in Burzciema, a fisherman's farm “days,” where visitors are told about the everyday life of fishermen, as well as the preservation of the culinary heritage. In Kestervillage, the Hostel “Pludmalis” offers visitors to explore the cultural and historical heritage – making and mending of networks.

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Activities/Actions

The fishery uses a wide range of fishing gears, including fishing nets. Making fishing nets is a traditional knowledge and skill that almost every Member of the fishing family once knew and knew.
The traditional fishing net consists of self-woven or industrially woven mesh fabric, or netting, trimmed with coarser thread. The netting was put into ropes. Floats were attached to the top rope of the net to keep the top edge of the net afloat. In turn, sinks were attached to the rope at the bottom of the net. The length, width, mesh size and other features of the network design were adapted to local terrain, fishing season and specific species of fish. (Benita Laumane. “Fishing gear names off the coast of Latvia”, Liepaja: Liepa, 2019)

For the weaving or binding of netting, the following were used:
- the net hooks, or pillar, to which the nascent net was attached,
- a shark, or net pin,
- a netting table, or netting table, that provided the same mesh size,
- thimble knife used to trim threads during weaving.

The saves were made of leafy wood - birch, apple tree, ash, juniper and lilac. These days, prefabricated plastic bundles are used.

The net mesh shall be woven with a bundle, with the linen or cotton thread firmly wrapped on it. The mesh eye shall be formed by two sail throws. The saw is pulled through the already-torn eye with a weaving thread, and then, with a second jab at the bend, the saw is pulled underneath the eye through a bend and tightly tightens the knot. Network loops made with thread thread are called eyes.
Some universal types of nodes were used to weave nets. Biruta Laumann's 2019 study titled “fishing gear names on the Latvian Coast” refers to Andrei Schultz's book “Sea fishing Labour Tools in North Kurzeme in the Second half of the 19 th century, published in 1961. Archaeology and ethnography ', which mentions that two types of nodes were common to bind fishing nets: the simple and double nodes. The simple mesh binding assembly shall be formed by one stroke of the bundle and double by two strokes of the bundle. Double nodes can be further divided into straight and oblique nodes. The straight knot was used when the mesh had to be woven from coarser and twisted threads. The simple knot was tied across the finger, though the method was a little complicated, it was more smooth than the double knot binding.
To attract the netting to the rope, it had to be plated with a rougher thread - a tham - in several layers.

The correction of fishing nets, which is still handmade, is just as important. Patching the torn net goes the same way as weaving the net. The node types are the same as the original network. During patching, the mesh shall be tensioned in layers so that the new layers are similar to the patch mesh.

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Beliefs, Rituals, Unwritten Rules

Fishing is one of the oldest professions mentioned in Latvian folk songs, fairy tales and folk beliefs.
The electronic source of information includes a folk song sent from Lapforest village in the www.dainuskapis.lv category “Shared fishing Festival. Tablesongs at fishing Festival”:

“The mother of the sea asked me,
What do my fishermen do.
The nets were woven, the paddles were fought,
Sitting on the hill. '

The website “beliefs of the Latvian people” mentions a number of beliefs related to fishing nets, for example, one of them is written down in tears, and it contains a message about how to ensure successful catch, namely that “the net should be started on a Sunday, during the church, so that fish go into the net like the people in the church. “Another belief States that 'you can't spit on the net or live on top of it, then fish won't catch up there'.” The following beliefs have been preserved in the collection of the Lapmezciems village Museum: 'When fishing is resumed for the first time after winter or a new net is thrown in, nothing shall be given to the other – envy. When a new boat is pushed to a sedge or usually goes to throw nets, a woman should not cross the road. “There is also a belief on the Lapmezciems side related to fishing these days: “When a vessel pulls a trawl for fishing, it is preferable for the trawler not to shave his beard so as not to break the trawl.”

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Inheritance and Transfer

Historically, the skills of fishing net-making positions were inherited to the family. In flocks of fishermen, children were involved in fishing net-making from a young age. During the Soviet period, fishermen's colhoses are set up fishing gear repair workshops in which masters of net-making and repair skills passed on to apprentices. During this time, there was an active promotion of the skills of fisheries-related positions among school young people, such as the “Do You love the Sea?” competition, one of the tasks was to test the skills of patching nets.

Nowadays, when it is possible to buy industrially produced fishing nets, mastering and transferring their craft skills to the family is gradually disappearing.
Currently, knowledge inheritance takes place in some network workshops still off the coast, with masters transferring fishing networking skills to new recruits. Another way of transferring the skills of fishing net-making posts is through the acquisition and use of netting techniques in areas other than fisheries. An important way of promoting public familiarisation with craft skills is, for example, demonstration of web weaving and patching, rope twisting at cultural events, cultural and historical institutions, cultural tourism and educational activities

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History

Until the beginning of the second half of the 20 th century, coastal fishing was the work of an individual fisherman or groups of fishermen to ensure livelihood and profit. Fishermen's most important gear has always been the net. Until the early 20 th century, networking was one of the most important works of each fisherman's family.
The Otomars Kalpina “salinity. the tale of the King of the Sea of Ragaciem,” published in 2018, mentions that the company “Baltic linen Manufacture company”, founded in Riga in 1859, had an important role to play in the development of networking, in which webs of different types and sizes began woven industrially from coarser and finer cotton thread. Fishing nets woven from factories imported from abroad also appeared. Saulvedis Cimermanis writes in his 1998 book “fishing and fishermen in the 19 th century,” that by the late 19 th century, under domestic conditions, woven hemp nets had almost disappeared from the seaside. It was easier for fishermen to buy cotton nets than to make them at home. At home, the conditions were confined to patching and lounging the nets.
Andrei Schultz, on the other hand, concludes in the book “Marine fishing Tools in the North Courland”, released in 1961, that the use of industrial-automatic and semi-automatic woven cotton nets also involved the introduction of the term “netting woven”, which replaced the term “netting”.
After World War II, fishermen living on the western coast of the Gulf of Riga were forced to join together in Kolhozos and fish on a plan set by the government during the Soviet period. As increased fishing volumes were requested and the fishing process intensified, it was necessary to set up mechanical workshops for boats belonging to Kolhoz as well as construction and repair workshops for fishing gear. Network repair shops typically employed women who could shovel nets and build gear (trawls, pots) after drawings. Netting and rope workshops were already ready from factories.

Webbing
In the 1939 edition of Paula Ludwig, “Miscellaneous netting and weaving techniques”, it is mentioned that fishermen of the western coastal villages of the Gulf of Riga, like other Latvian coastal fishermen, have observed several aids for weaving and patching nets – saithe, hooks, weaving table and knife tip (for cutting thread), as well as auxiliary tools – reels (for winding thread) and spinning vertebrae (Ludwig 1939, p. 344-355). Fishing nets were made of various materials. The earliest netting was made of flame hatches, and the netting threads were later spun from flax and hemp.
Until the use of synthetic threads, universal node types were used to weave fishing nets in the territory of Latvia.
Andrei Schultz writes in “the Labour Tools of Marine Fisheries in North Kurzeme,” that when woven nets from nylon, caprone and perlon emerged in the second half of the 20 th century, their netting was connected to a knotless (Schultz 1961, p. 158), and the netting sites were alloyed.

Repair and storage of nets
Often the nets were damaged during fishing, so patching, handling and preserving the nets was important. Patching the net was a handiwork that used a saithe and a pawing table. The patching of the torn net went the same way as the weaving of the net, which was to use the same types of nodes as the original network.
In order to store and use the nets in the long term, fishermen processed them. One of the oldest ways of preserving fishing nets was by smog. It was used in the 19 th century when the nets were made of hemp and linen thread. To paint the net in a darker colour and to make the net more invisible to fish in the water, the nets were boiled down by lime, alder, oak peel or spruce and pine cones. Such conservation of fishing nets is described in issue 34 of the 1929 edition “farmer”. However, the main method of maintaining networks is to treat networks gently. After each fishery, they should have been cleaned, washed and thoroughly dried. If the fisherman wasn't careful about his main work tackle, the net wasn't guaranteed a long life. The processing of the nets was particularly important in the autumn months, when it was necessary to wash the nets and prepare them so that they could go to sea again in the spring.

The importance of the network nowadays
The importance of fishing net-making in fisheries has not changed. As technology develops, the making of fishing nets has changed. Today, fishing nets are done industrially, and fishermen most often buy nets. Some network workshops are still operating in Latvia, for example, in 2024 a fishing nets and gear repair shop is operating in Engure.
Mending fishing nets remains a handiwork.

As the development of the fishing industry decreases, the networking and associated traditions are maintained as an offer of cultural tourism and cultural activities. Interest in a diverse use of weaving techniques has grown in the past three years. Community and population surveys are also dominated by the view that fishing and fishing networking should be preserved as the cultural and historical heritage of the coast.

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Additional Information

Fishing and skills in fishing networking positions are related to the value included in the cultural Canon of Latvia – the seaside landscape. Once an integral part of the coastal landscape of fishing villages was the valor, or sedge, where netting huts, boats, and nets were dried on bunks.

Fishing networking skills are also linked to oral traditions and expressions. Studies have shown that the names associated with fishing, fishing gear and fishing grounds are very diverse and some are also used today, such as floats in fishing nets in coastal villages also known as floats. On the other hand, two names are used for the position of boats on the seashore in the western part of the Gulf of Riga: sedation and charm. From Lielupe to Vaivars there is a valour, while from Kaugurvillage to Lielirbei there is a sedation. Engure, Mersragh, Caltene and Roy also used the word “sadness.” On the other hand, the rack to which the weave or paw net was attached was called a hook or hotspot in Kaugurvillage and Engure, although elsewhere along the coast it is known as a poker or a crater. (Benita Laumane. “Fishing gear names off the coast of Latvia”, Liepaja: Liepa, 2019).

Historically, fishing net-making tools were prepared by fishermen or craftsmen themselves. Consequently, the creation of fishing nets is also linked to other job skills. For example, with rope twisting and cocamatisation (making of saws). The natural fibres of flax and hemp were used in the making and weaving of the net, so the skills of the fishing net craft can also be attributed to the preparation of textile fibres, including the cultivation of flax and hemp.

Fishing nets have a strong connection with the development of ownership marks. Each owner of the network engraved the ownership mark in the floats, pots, other fishing gear, nets, so that they could find and recognize their network. Both geometric marks and their derivatives and the first letters of the fisherman's name and surname were used. Usually, the property signs were inherited by son, the next fisherman of the generation, inheriting the property signs from generation to generation and keeping them constant.

Fishing nets are also associated with the passage, annual and traditional nature of time and nature.
The Metenis or Vastslāvis in fishermen's villages was called the fishermen's Festival or mate's day. Jacob Stutis writes in the book “fishermen of the Bigong village and its surroundings,” published in 1937: “the most remarkable day for fishermen was Vastslāvis. A couple of weeks beforehand, the helmsman convened his congregation to discuss whether or not to celebrate in Westlavy, because it involved spending 30-50 rubles to be earned in the spring. 'In Fricis Dames Mountain's memories of the celebration of Vastslavsky, in the collection of the Jurmala Museum, it is mentioned that the helmsman baked white bread and made beer during the festivities of his people.
For his part, will Welder's 1939 book, life by the seaside, mentions that "men were hired for winter fishing in Caugurvillage around the Martins, and the Martins were called fishermen's wedding. On that day, the guided men assemble at the helmsman and volunteered to be welcomed into the congregation. (..) After all the men in the lead have talked to the mate, there are plenty of drinks and snacks in the table that have been shared, and dancing and cheering begins all night, as at the wedding. '

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Masters

Inara Evert – was a “victory” for fishermen's Kolhoz (Z/K) and employee of the fishing gear repair shop of the joint stock company (a/S) “Gulf of the Sea” (Jurmala)
Dainis Stahl – fisherman (Jurmala/Lapmezciems)
Anitra Tooms - clerk (Jurmala/Roja)
Zoja Milovidova – was a Z/K “victory” and A/S “Gulf of the Sea” fishing gear repair shop employee (Jurmala)
Ligita Stahl – SIA “Sota” (Engure)
Indra Riekstina – SIA “Sota” (Engure)
Tom Birznieks - trawler (Ragaciems/Lapmezciems)
Zelma Cepelevska - Master of nets (Lapmezciems)
Ilmars Raginskis – fisherman, SIA “branga” (Kestervillage)
Arvid Snapis – fisherman (Lapmezciems)
Arvis Kalnpurs – fisherman (Lapmezciems)
Kristaps Silas – fisherman (Lapmezciems)
Olafs Apshenieks – fisherman (Lapmezciems)
Edgars Egle – fisherman (Lapmezciems)
Uldis Meiers – fisherman (Lapmezciems)
Modris Mukanis – cokamatnieks, maker of bundles (Degoles civil parish)
INTA Konrads - weaver, netting seed (Tukums)

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Agencies and Institutions

Jurmala Museum, Jurmala Museum, Jurmala Museum, Jurmala craft society, Folklore Art “Mare”,
Lapmezciems village Museum, “society “Welfare”, Senior society, local residents Initiative – Ragaciema sedation,
The Engures Community House, SIA “Sota”, the Apshuciema fishery and Marine cultural Heritage Centre, the Engures Community House, the Berzciema fishermen's Fences “Dienas”, the Hostel of the Host village “Pludmalis”.

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Strengthening

Taking into account the rapid decrease in the number of skill scientists in fishing networking positions, cultural and heritage institutions can now make a significant contribution to maintaining and strengthening the skills of positions. Collecting and documenting historical testimonies, as well as organising festivals and other events related to fishing traditions, where demonstration of craft skills takes place, contributes to the maintenance and promotion of craft skills and traditions.
Cultural and memory institutions (Jurmala Open-Air Museum, Lapmezciems village Museum, Engures civil parish Shuziema fishery and Marine cultural Heritage Centre, Engures Community House, Roja Sea Fisheries Museum and its branch “Kaltene Club”) shall, in addition to the improvement of historical exhibitions, implement measures that promote the preservation and accessibility of craft skills to the public. For example, the Jurmala Museum organises the summer season event “Thursday – fish day”, during which there are also showcases of fishing net patching and rope twisting. The Jurmala Museum has prepared museum pedagogical classes – “Annual fishermen's Fences”, “rope and Strip Workshop” and “one day at fisherbank”. Ragaciema's sedge gives an idea of what Sedumi on the Gulf Coast looked like. A training area has been set up at the Fisheries and Marine cultural Heritage Centre in Apshuciem in Engures civil parish, hosting creative workshops and training related to marine cognition and the transfer of fishing skills to future generations.

A historical study of the development of fishing networking was carried out as part of the start of the preparation of the application for the inclusion of skills in fishing networking positions in the intangible Heritage List. Documentation of the skills of positions was initiated with the support of the State Culture capital Foundation (NCF). Community domains were organised in the process of preparing the application and opportunities were identified for the transfer of mesh-making techniques to contemporary design. On September 16, 2023, in Jurmala Museum, the society “Jurmala craft” organized the first master class of net-making, during which the netting technique was acquired. A programme for the improvement of the professional competence of teachers “transfer of skills of ancient positions in Design” has been developed and implemented in Jurmala, which enables the acquisition of netting techniques for fishing nets. on April 6, 2024, during the event “meet your Master!” there was a shopping net-making workshop where the first four educators also learned netting skills. At the Tukums weavers Workshop, several masters of the People's applied Art Studio “Durbe” have mastered netting techniques, as well as conducting classes on making practical household objects.
in the autumn of 2023, the municipalities of Jurmala State capital and Tukuma county conducted a survey of coastal residents, as well as interviewed local residents regarding the necessity of preserving and inheriting the skills of the fishery heritage, including the trades related to the making of fishing nets. The survey included 126 respondents who supported the initiative of maintaining fishing networking skills. For its part, the Jurmala Museum compiled memories of fishermen's families. The Lapmezciems village Museum, in cooperation with the local Community, organised a discussion on the further development of the Fanciest and the inclusion of fishing net making in the festive programme.

The activities and survey carried out so far show support for the initiative to maintain fishing networking skills. One important step in maintaining and promoting the skills of fishing networking positions is the preparation of a skills application for fishing networking positions for an intangible list of cultural heritage. In the preparatory process, there was an opportunity to assess the existing heritage, to identify the Community, to assess the skills of positions, which is a rapidly disappearing value. This has led to further work on preserving the cultural and historical identity of the coastline, assessing that maintaining fishing net-making skills today also makes it possible to highlight the importance of the fishing industry for the development of coastal competitiveness in the globalisation era.

The previous support of the municipalities of Jurmala State City and Tukums county, Lapmezciems and Engures civil parish offices ensures the implementation of activities and functions of cultural heritage institutions related to the fishery heritage – Jurmala free-range Museum, Lapmezciems village Museum and Engures Community House.
Non-governmental organisations in the competitions for projects of cultural and population initiatives of Jurmala State capital and Tukuma county receive financial support for projects for conservation of fishery heritage and craft skills. For example, with the support of the “do-it-yourself” competition for NGO projects in Tukuma municipality, the society “Jurvillages” in 2021 implemented the project “Photo Plenary and exhibition “ancient story of fishing villages”. With the support of the competition for projects of the citizens' initiative of Jurmala State City Administration, the society “Asne” in 2023 implemented the project “Jurmalian Creator workshops”, within the framework of which the activity “Ancient Mariner or Heritage day – Ancient skills Workshop at Jurmala Open Air Museum” took place. In addition, the municipalities of Jurmala State City and Tukums county supported the historical feasibility study on traditional craft skills – fishing networking and related traditions. Experts from various sectors – historians, businessmen, museum staff, educators, craftsmen and local government representatives, etc. – were involved in the process of drawing up the application and drawing up the heritage conservation programme.
in 2023, with THE SUPPORT of THE NCF, the project “historical feasibility study and preparation of video material for an application for the inclusion of fishing net-making skills in the intangible cultural Heritage List” was implemented.

In future, it is planned to promote closer co-operation with institutions in the field of education of the participating parties (educational administrations, educational institutions), as well as to develop co-operation with research institutions. One of the priorities will be to establish cooperation with Baltic coastal municipalities, cultural and cultural historical institutions in Latvia. It is also planned to launch cooperation with policy makers in the fisheries sector on the conservation of fishing traditions and heritage.

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Continuity/Development

In order to promote research into fishing networking skills and knowledge and related traditions, a five-year retention plan (2025-2029) has been developed for fishing networking positions, in which one of the priorities is to continue research on skills knowledge and heritage of fishing networking positions, ensuring the documentation and promotion of new evidence. The plan outlines activities that promote the wider public's interest and understanding of cultural and historical heritage, in particular the skills and knowledge of fishing networking positions.

In order to contribute to the protection and development of fishing net-making skills and knowledge and associated traditions, the “five-year retention Plan for fishing net-making positions” (2025-2029) identifies priorities related to education and cultural tourism:
- inclusion of the theme of safeguarding skills and knowledge of fishing networking positions in cultural education, including interest education programmes, lifelong learning, as well as in general education programmes within the framework of planned projects;
- assess the skills of fishing networking positions as an important resource to complement the cultural and creative tourism supply. Integrate the skills of fishing networking positions into existing coastal identity brands of Jurmala and Tukuma counties, involving local entrepreneurs and craftsmen, as well as developing new tourism offerings and design products.

The objective of the five-year Plan for the Preservation of the skills of fishing networking posts set out in the Annex (2025-2029) is to promote the maintenance, development and transfer of job skills complexes, the identification and strengthening of the wider Community and the active involvement of the public in heritage maintenance.

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Threats

Fishing nets and related trades skills are an integral part of the fishing process and the fishing industry. Thus, one of the main threats to maintaining the skills of positions is the decline in the development of the fisheries sector. As the need to apply the skills of positions in practice disappears, so does the need to inherit or acquire the skills of the positions concerned. As a result, the number of job skills know-how is currently decreasing.
The other threat is the rising cost of manual labour. The gear (net) thus made is incomparably more expensive than manufactured. In addition, it should be noted that, for example, Chinese products are not patched, which causes waste and, in some cases, environmental pollution.
Changes in the legal framework of the fishing industry as well as a decline in the prestige of the fishing profession and the disappearance of traditional coastal lifestyles also have an impact.

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Applicant

Jurmala State City Municipality and Tukuma Municipality

Image Gallery

Tīkla_lāpīšana_Lapmežciemā

Patching of nets in Lapforest village
Ragaciemniece Anna Stahl (born steel) torch nets in the images of Ragaciema, in the early 70 s. Photo from the Lapmezciems village Museum collection

Tīklu_žāvēšana

Drying of nets
Drying of webs on bones in the Engure seating. Photo from Erna Zubova's archive (handed over in 2024 to the Engure sales House)

Jurmala_Uzvara_tīklu_darbnīca

Fishermen's kolhoza 'victory' gear workshop
Fishermen's kolhoz “victory” fishing gear workshop Common View, 1981. Photo from the Jurmala Museum collection

JBMuzejs_virju_vīšana

Rope-twisting showcases at Jurmala outdoor Museum event “Thursday - fish day”
The twisting of the ropes is demonstrated by amateur skills know Maris Manins. Jurmala, 2023. Photo: Dace Ziemele

Saivas_darināšana

Making a sail
Cockamatnieks Modris Mukan demonstrates his making. Degole, 2023. Photo: Ingrida Shmushkova

Murda darināšana engurē

Making a mud in Engure
Murdu is made by masters Ligita Stahl and Indra Riekstina. may 18, 2024, Engure. Photo: Andris Jermuts

Tīklu_lāpīšana

Patching of nets in Lapforest village
Lapmezciems, 2012. Photo: Iveta Meiers

Dieninas 2016 foto Viesturs Serdans (3)

Fishing farm 'days' cognitive narrative of fishing
Birsvillage, 2016. Photo: Viesturs Serdans

Satiec savu meistaru Bulduru izstazu nams_Artis Veigurs-1-16

“Meet your Master - 2024” shopping mesh making masterclass at Bulduru exhibition House
Jurmala, 2024. Photo: Artis Weigour

skolot_apliecibas_JMS_2024_04

The first four teachers of Jurmala School of Art who trained in the making of netting and received a certificate of the programme for improvement of the professional competence of teachers “transfer of knowledge of the intangible cultural Heritage in Design”
Jurmala, 2024. Photo: Zigurds Bilzonis

Renģu_zveja

Rennet fishing in Engure
Engure, May 13, 2024. Photo: Andris Jermuts

Tīklu lāpīšana

Net patchers
Photo: Egons Eglitis

Video Materials

Making fishing nets
The process of making fishing nets, from making saws and ropes to weaving netting, to laying netting in ropes. 2023. Video: MADIS Screener

Making and mending fishing nets in the Witch seam
Making and mending a fishing net and talking about the use of craft skills today with one of the new generation of trawlers, Tom Birznieks. 2023. Video: MADIS Screener

Fishing traditions
Conversation with Lapmezciems senior fisherman Arvid Snape and head of the Lapmezciems village Museum, fishermen's family representative Anita Alberti about the sedation of Ragaciema, affiliation signs, fishing net making and fishing. 2023. The video uses a photo of the Lapmezciems village Museum's collection. Video: MADIS Screener

Rope and bundle making
Making saws, or mesh needles, using ancient methods. Showcased by cockamatant Modris Mukan. The twisting of ropes in the rope workshop of the Jurmala Museum is shown by Maris Manins. Jurmala Museum specialist Liga Strazda says about the rope collection. The video uses a photo of the Lapmezciems village Museum's collection. 2023. Video: MADIS Screener

Making fishing nets - weaving a hypocrite and “netting marriages”
Making fishing nets and leftovers and talking to Inara Evert, the workshop masters of former fishermen's Kolhoz “winning” nets. Making fishing trawls, “patching up” nets and talking to Ligita Stahl and Indra Riekstina, masters of SIA “Sota”. 2023. The video uses a photo footage from the Jurmala Museum's collection. Video: MADIS Screener

Text Materials

Zvejas_tiklu_amatu_prasmju_saglab_programma

Fishing networking craft skills retention Plan for five years (2025-2029)

_iedzīvotāju_ līdzdalība_un_priekšlikumi

Citizens' views on conservation of fisheries heritage and proposals for updating heritage

Vēsturiskā_priekšizpēte_Zvejas tīkli Jurmalas un Tukuma novada piekrastē_K_Fogelis

Historical feasibility study on traditional craft skills – fishing networking and related traditions on the Gulf of Riga coast of Jurmala State City and Tukuma municipality
By: Mg.his t. Charles Fogelis

Metodika_iepirkumu_tiklina_darinasana

Purchase net binding guide
By Anitra Tooms

Harija Auzina_zvejas tīklu apraksts

Harry Aussies gear drawings
An excerpt from the memory narrative of Lapforest village fisherman Harry Ausins and will fish for drawings of gear (nets) schemes. Memories were recorded on March 15, 2006, by Lapmezciems village Museum employee clear Legzdins. Material from the collection of the Lapforest village Museum

Publications

Veldre V. (1991). Life by the sea. Riga: Latvian cultural Foundation (reissue (first edition - Veldre V. (1939). Sightings in Latvian seaside fishermen's villages. From Kolka to Ainazzi. Riga: farmers' thoughts)

Shuttle J. (1937). Fishermen from Bignan village and the surrounding area. Riga: peasant thoughts

Laumane B. (2019). Fishing gear names on the Latvian coast. Liepaja: Liepa

Laumane B. (1987). Names of fishing grounds off the coast of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. Riga: Science

Laumane B. (1996). Land, sea, fishing grounds. Fishing lexicon off the coast of Latvia. Riga: Science

Bandage A. (2003). Rope twisting accessories. Riga: Model printing

Kalpina O. (2018). Salty. The tale of the King of the Sea of Ragaciem. Riga: Latvian media

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Websites

Website Krisjanis Baron's Dainu closet - Table songs recorded in Kaugurvillage, Bigun village and Lapforest village at the fishing festival – Vastleavy.

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