Being an artisanal fisherman in l’Estartit means leading a lifestyle marked by hard work, perseverance and a deep connection with the sea. Each day begins very early, before dawn, when the fisherman prepares to leave the port with his boat. In the stillness of the early morning, while the village is still asleep, he heads towards the buoy that marks his fishing spot, the place where he cast his nets the day before.
There, with patience and skill, he begins to collect the trammel net, a traditional net made up of several layers that allows different species of fish to be caught. As he pulls it out of the water, the fisherman carefully separates the catch, removing the fish one by one to avoid damaging them. He then places them in boxes with water and ice, ensuring that they are kept in the best possible condition until they reach land.
When he has finished his work at sea, he heads back to the port of l’Estartit. Once there, he moors his boat and sorts the fish by size and species. The product is then prepared for transport to the fish market in Palamós, where it will be auctioned and distributed, ensuring that the fruits of his labour arrive fresh at local markets and restaurants.
But the fisherman’s day does not end there. In the afternoon, when the sun begins to set, he returns to his boat to cast his nets into the sea once again, leaving them ready for the following day. This daily cycle of early mornings, sea and hard work reflects the essence of artisanal fishing: a profession that combines tradition, respect for nature and a deep knowledge of the marine environment, passed down from generation to generation.
