For decades, Riverdale Mills has worked alongside lobster and crab fishermen across Ireland, Scotland and Britain to build more than lobster pots and crab creels. They’ve built trust. By listening closely and responding directly to the needs of coastal communities from Donegal to Cornwall, the Hebrides to the North Sea, Riverdale has earned its place on decks and quaysides throughout these storied fisheries.
“We exist to help fishermen do their work better,” says Jim Knott, CEO of Riverdale Mills. “The lobster fishing industry put us on the map, and we are deeply grateful. No matter where we go in the world, it always comes back to welded‑wire lobster and crab mesh.”
In 1980, informed by an intimate understanding of the Atlantic’s unforgiving conditions and life at sea, Riverdale developed Aquamesh®, a first‑of‑its‑kind, marine‑grade wire mesh engineered to withstand saltwater, storms and time, and meet the exacting demands of professional lobster and crab fisheries.
Aquamesh® is fabricated from premium steel and hot‑dip galvanized after welding, creating a thick zinc envelope that surrounds every weld to maximize durability and resist corrosion. The wire is then coated with Riverdale’s proprietary marine‑grade polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and fuse‑bonded to the metal for exceptional adhesion. This protective layer prevents peeling, cracking and stripping in saltwater, significantly reducing the need for costly repairs or premature replacements.
Across these islands, Aquamesh® is made for the realities of the fishery. In Scotland, where fishing is particularly heavy for lobster, Aquamesh creels and pots provide the durability and longevity that working gear demands. In Ireland, where fisheries are heavily focused on crab, especially brown crab and velvet crab, operators rely on Aquamesh pots and fish pens to endure brutal winter gales and keep fishing season after season. The durability of Riverdale’s wire mesh is not merely a cost‑saving benefit; it is a way of protecting livelihoods.
“We are committed to helping fishing communities meet today’s challenges with wire mesh they can trust,” Knott adds. “For Riverdale, that means staying close to our customers, investing in innovation, ensuring reliable delivery, and never losing sight of the relationships that anchor Riverdale Mills.”
Although Riverdale’s sole manufacturing facility is in the United States, the company remains firmly committed to international growth and to staying connected with the fishermen of some of the world’s oldest and most respected fishing villages across these islands.
Today, Riverdale manufactures more than 3,500 sizes of welded‑wire mesh for industries as varied as construction, aquaculture, security and farming. Forty per cent of the company’s products are exported, and demand for Aquamesh® continues to grow throughout Ireland, Scotland and Britain.
Looking ahead, Knott is confident that the shared history between Riverdale and the Islands lobster and crab fisheries will continue to anchor us in a changing world. “Knowing that fishermen expect nothing but the best from us keeps us focused,” he says. “Our job is to ensure our customers have the best wire mesh to keep their traditions alive and their futures secure.”
