NUSiNANSA

Throughout the entire Mediterranean there are now barely a handful of fishermen who still make fishing traps from vegetable fibres. What used to be the most respectful method of sea fishing: passive, selective and with totally biodegradable equipment, is now part of a collection of extinct artisanal trades. This way of working has been replaced by intensive fishing and synthetic materials.

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The fishing traps were made at home, during the winter, from plants: rush, cane, willow, olive or tamarisk, which were collected in the surrounding environment. Knowledge of the triangular mesh technique was exclusive to fishermen, always men, and was passed from father to son for generations.

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The fishing traps had to be light but firm, because they spent the summer under water. They generally lasted for one season and were replaced by new ones every year. They made it possible to obtain the highest value fish and crustaceans, alive and intact, from the rocky sea floor, where it is impossible to work with traditional nets. The shape of the trap itself, the bell-shaped nansa, the apple-shaped gambina or others (xufanguera, llobreganera, and gavitana, as they are known in Catalan), together with the bait, determined the fish or crustacean that was caught.

 

Apart from capture traps, other complementary pieces of equipment made using the same technique were used in day-to-day marine life, such as cofes de palangre (longline trays) or vivers (receptacles to keep the crustaceans alive whilst on sale), all together forming the trade of sea basketry, part of the Mediterranean cultural heritage.