Lamprey has been fished in Latvia using a gear that has changed only slightly over the last century. Each season a wooden bridge, seen in the picture above, is built across the Salaca river from which the fish traps are suspended. One hundred years ago the traps were fashioned from twigs, today the fishers use regular nylon nets. The poles used to build the bridge are tied together with steel wire rather than strips of bark as used to be the practice, but other than that the concept has not changed. The bridge, though more durable than in the past, is still built anew each season. Uldis Rozensteins assists his father-in-law with the work the fishing entails: building the bridge, setting the traps, taking them down when the weather gets rough or the water levels too high, and of course, harvesting the fish. Part of the catch Mr Rozensteins buys and then processes, grilling the fish on a wooden fire. Lamprey is a delicacy in Latvia and in Salacgrivas there is even a festival dedicated to the fish, where vistors can taste grilled lamprey or lamprey soup.
The wooden bridge which supports the lamprey-catching traps is rebuilt each season.
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