Shaping wood to give fish access (9)
I believe the answer is:
carpentry
'shaping wood' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'give fish access' is the wordplay.
'give' says to put letters next to each other.
'fish' becomes 'carp' (carp is a kind of fish).
'access' becomes 'entry' (entry is a kind of access).
'carp' next to 'entry' is 'CARPENTRY'.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for carpentry that I've seen before include "Craft of a woodworker" , "Trade" , "part of building" , "Joining work" , "Woodworking" .)