My work documenting the last salmon net fishermen in Scotland has been an ongoing project which began in 1996 the first stage of which reached its conclusion with the closure of all the remaining coastal and river fisheries in 2018, many of which had been in existence for hundreds of years. The project has evolved under the title Catching the Tide, and has been published, exhibited and broadcast extensively over the years, both at home and abroad, to critical acclaim. Photographs from the project are held by a number of important photography archives and collections, including the National Galleries of Scotland and the University of St. Andrews' Special Collection. Catching the Tide continues to be of interest and relevance both in Scotland and further afield.

In 2021, I began a new chapter of Catching the Tide, when I visited a number of the former netting stations and photographed and interviewed many of the fishermen I had previously worked with. The intention is to continue this process over the coming years to build a complete picture of the last days of salmon net fishing in Scotland by expanding the project to include film, writing, collecting and collaborating with individuals, organisations and institutions to preserve the historical and contemporary legacy of salmon net fishing.

Please get in touch with me if you are interested in finding out more: colinmcpherson@mac.com.

All images are © Colin McPherson, with all rights reserved.