Lave net fishing is a centuries-old practice centered in the Severn Estuary, characterized by the use of Y-shaped nets to catch salmon in shallow waters. The method is deeply tied to the unique geography of the Bristol Channel, which features the second-highest tidal range globally. Practitioners, such as Martin Morgan of the Black Rock Lave Net Fishery, emphasize that the work requires a deep understanding of the local currents rather than an attempt to fight them.

While the practice is historically significant, it is currently described as a tradition in trouble. The fishery, which has been passed down through generations, faces ongoing challenges related to environmental changes and the difficulty of maintaining such labor-intensive, traditional methods in a modern context. The reliance on specific tidal conditions makes the practice highly sensitive to environmental shifts, and the survival of the fishery is increasingly tied to the ability of practitioners to adapt to these changing conditions while preserving their ancestral techniques.