Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village.
The fishing industry has always been the driving force behind the economy of the municipality of L'Ametlla de Mar. So much so that activities such as agriculture and other industries were merely alternative sources of income. Currently, this source of income has taken a back seat, as the service sector derived from tourism has become the main economic activity. Other activities, such as construction, also play a significant role in the municipality's economy. It is worth noting that fishing is currently experiencing a crisis due to various factors that affect its development, such as the high cost of fuel, the decline in fish catches, and the low price at the source at which this product is being paid. The municipality's tourism activity has been based since its origins on the appeal of sun and beaches, which the town proudly showcases with its five blue flags that fly year after year on the five largest beaches. However, for some time now, this tourism offer has lost some interest, as visitors now seek additional incentives beyond just this. Therefore, expanding the cultural and tourism offer is a strategy to follow in order to maintain and develop the municipality's economy.
2. The Origins. (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village).
The village of L'Ametlla, exporter of fishing wisdom throughout Catalonia, begins its history at the point where we are now. Here, Mr. Baptista Gallart Gafarelo arrived with a fishing boat and settled as the first colonist of the area, which was still part of the municipality of Perelló. As for the toponym of the municipality, there are several interpretations regarding its origin. Currently, and thanks to the local historian Xavier Figueres, it has been confirmed that for centuries, despite the respective errors that have appeared throughout history in various coastal maps, the definitive name of the place has been considered to be Cala de na Ametlla. Finally, on March 9, 1917, the official name of L'Ametlla de Mar was declared.
1. CIP - Fishing Interpretation Centre (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village).
Today, the two main industries of the town are tourism and fishing. These are promoted through the Fishing Interpretation Centre, the old fish market. At the same time it is committed to preserving the environment and to recovery of our history and traditions. The Fishing Interpretation Centre is a means of displaying our town’s history. Therefore the aim of the centre is to give visitors information on the origins of La Cala and everything that surrounds the world of fishing.
3. The boat crane (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village).
The boat crane is an essential facility in developing work on the maintenance of ships. Currently the system consists of a docking crane which, using slings, lifts the ship and transports it to the dry dock. Maintenance work mainly consists of cleaning the hull, structural repairs, servicing etc. Formerly, the task of dry docking a ship was performed with a structure which loaded the boat and carried it along rails. The limited capacity of this system contributed to the modernisation of the new system.
4. Long line fishing and the equipment (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village).
THE EQUIPMENT: Consist of a resistant main line of a specific length. From this line there are several smaller lines attached at intervals with hooks at the end. On each of these lines there is a weight to hold it on the bottom and at the other end a buoy to help locate it. THE TECHNIQUE: There are different types of line depending o the type of fish being caught. Normally the hooks are left on the seabed and removed the next day.
5. Trammel fishing (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village).
THE EQUIPMENT: Consists of three nets, with much larger mesh in the middle net. There are floats on the head rope and weights on the bottom rope to keep the net vertical. At one end of the net you will find buoys to indicate the edge and an anchor is attached to the other end to avoid drifting. THE TECHNIQUE: The height and length of the nets can vary and have different size netting depending on the type of fishing and the species being caught. The boats leave in the afternoon to set the nets and return to collect them early in the morning.
6. Seine fishing (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village).
THE EQUIPMENT: Consists of a net made up of various rectangular pieces, with small mesh and can be approximately 250 meters long and 50 meters high. At the top there is a cord with floats and at the bottom another cord with weights; here you will also find the rings for the cord that closes the net once the fish are inside. THE TECHNIQUE: The leave at night and return in the morning. Two boats are needed; the larger of which carries the crew and equipment, and the other has lights to attract the fish to the net. Once the fish are inside, the net circles the fish and is closed, creating a bag that is slowing made smaller and brought to the surface. The fish are retrieved with scoop nets and stowed by the larger boat.
7. Trawling (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village).
The equipment: Consists of a sac-like structure, made up of three main parts: the top where the floats open the mouth of net; this part is longer than the bottom to prevent fish escaping. At the bottom is the lead weight which drags the seabed and the crown is where the fish that enter through the mouth of the net are kept. The technique: They leave at 7am in search of a fishing spot, then they throw the net which is attached to the boat by very l9ong, strong cables, these are attached to doors which help to open the mouth of the net. The net is dragged along the seabed for two or three hours. After this time, they raise the net and bring in the fish.
8. The fisheries association (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village)
The fish market is where the fish are sold at public auction. There are two sales for day, one in the morning for the trawler fishing and the other at four o’clock in the afternoon when the dragnet boats arrive. In each of these sales each buyer has an allocated seat where they press a button when the price they want to pay is shown on the screen. The buyers are fishmongers, wholesalers or retailers
9. Sunken ships (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village)
The strategic position of the Tarragona coast in the Mediterranean during the First World War as an area for the passage of allied sailing ships caused the germans to send submarines to stop the transport of energy to countries like Italy, by American or English ships. The german submarines expected to attack the boats that drew a straight line to save the geographic accident of this gulf between the of the Ebro Delta and the “Cap of Salou”.
10. Seine fishing for bluefin tuna (Route: Discover the essence of a fishing village).
THE EQUIPMENT: Consists of a net formed by different rectangular sections, with large mesh and various kilometers in length. At the top there is a cord with floats attached and at the bottom another with weights, here you will also find the rings for the cord which closes the net once the fish are inside. THE TECHNIQUE: A minimum of two boats are necessary for this type of fishing, the larger of which carries the crew and the equipment. Once the fish are inside, the net circles the fish and is closed, creating a bag which is slowly made smaller and brought to the surface for the larger boat to retrieve the fish. The fish are transferred to a large cage that is towed to where they are once again transferred to be held in captivity where they are fed. When the fish reach commercial size they are sold, mainly to Japan. Depth: It is recommended from 100 meters. Schedule: All day. Season: From May 25 to June 25.
