Reef netting is a fishing technique used by some First Nations peoples. It is mainly used to harvest Sockeye and Pink salmon. Reef netting is practiced by stringing out a net between two canoes in the path of migrating salmon. The salmon swim into net and, when the desired number are in the net, the fishermen raise the net, pulling the sides up into the canoes. After this the anchors are loosened, allowing the two canoes to drift together, and the net is hauled in. The net and the canoes are held in place with anchor stones. These stone weights are only used for one season and then replaced. Reef netting is very labour intensive, taking 8 to 12 fishermen to work the canoes and the net. Despite this, reef netting is an efficient fishing technique because one is able to catch 1000s of salmon in one day using this method.

Reef netting in shallower waters near shore. Image © Hilary Stewart.Indian Fishing: Early Methods on the Northwest Coast. p. 93.

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Reef-netting is usually done above or beside a reef. One reason for this is that the reef acts like a funnel and pulls the salmon towards the net. Another reason is that shallow reefs are often lined with kelp. First Nations fishermen used to cut a path through the kelp which would further increase the chances of salmon swimming into the net. Sometimes reef netting is practiced in deeper waters where the advantages of a kelp sea bottom are not available. In deeper waters reef netting is still an efficient fishing method, however, it does require added fishing gear to carry out.

Commercial reef netting began in 1935 as a modernized version of Salish Indian fishing methods. Square ended boats about forty feet long are used. They work in pairs with lines and nylon nets strung between them. Concrete eight-ton anchors are used to form a funnel to trap the salmon. Parts of the trap are woven with sea grass to resemble a grassy reef rising from the sea bed.

Individual fishermen decide on the details of fishing depth, line lengths, and number of lines, depending on the location and number of salmon. Salmon are pushed by strong tidal action directly into the traps. The reef nets are winched aboard once they are filled with salmon.

Reef netting in deeper waters where kelp is not present. Image © Hilary Stewart.
Indian Fishing: Early Methods on the Northwest Coast. p. 94.

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