Almadraba

Almadraba refers to both capture device and a traditional way of fishing for tuna in Spain. In records of the 18th century is the Spanish term " matanza " ( German: the slaughter ) used for fishing and the fishing operation. Under the name mattanza is operated in a manner similar to tuna fishing in Sicily.

History

The fishing technique has not changed much in the last thousand years. The Dukes of Medina Sidonia were in the 12th century extensive fishing rights for the operation of Almadrabas to the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. From the first half of the 20th century a number of regulations to regulate the Almadrabas are known from Spain. In the 21st century finds the fishing method increasingly rare application since the tuna is threatened by industrial overfishing and extinction in many places led the fishing results from the second half of the 20th century for economic reasons for the suspension of operations.

Fishing method

For this, use the fishing gill nets, which are attached to the bottom of the sea with anchors and act as fish fence. Season for the Almadraba is the spring, especially the months of April and May.

Dissemination

From records and partially preserved Almadrabas to places can be detected in which this method of fishing was practiced. The catch with this method is still practiced in the following places of Andalusia Region: Cadiz, Chiclana de la Frontera, Conil de la Frontera, Barbate, Rota, Zahara, La Línea de la Concepción, Punta Umbria, Isla Cristina, Ceuta and Tarifa. Other cities of Cartagena region and the province of Alicante are also among the fishing places.