@narayani Thank you very much. I had struck up a conversation and "friendship" with the first mate and so when I asked if I could step onto the net to try and get my composition instead of being careful to stay on the outside of it, the seamen quickly agreed. Naturally I was very careful walking on their net, but it did help me improve my composition by having some choice of where to stand.
@ludwigsdiana Yes I don't think they have an easy life. I think this is the easy part - sitting in the sun mending nets. The hard part is out at sea in the bitter cold at night, hauling in nets, especially in winter.