The XXIV Almadraba Captains' Meeting, taking place in Isla Cristina until September 13, commenced with the 10th Almadrabero Pregón delivered by Italian marine biologist Antonio Di Natale. The event was held at the CT-Garum and was attended by institutional representatives, fishing sector professionals, and the general public.
The event, dedicated this year to the fundamental role of women in coastal communities, began with a speech by José Antonio López. Subsequently, professor Manuel Blasco Ruiz introduced the speaker, highlighting Di Natale's scientific career and his connection to the almadraba world.
In his address, Di Natale provided a historical overview of almadrabas and tuna fishing from antiquity to the present day, drawing on historical, archaeological, and scientific references. He explained the evolution of fishing techniques, the economic significance of this activity, and the surrounding almadraba culture, including its language, rituals, and specific architecture.
A significant portion of the speech focused on the evolution of tuna populations and the challenges of current fishing practices. Di Natale analyzed the fishing pressure over centuries and advocated for almadrabas as controllable fishing systems and marine environment observatories, particularly relevant in the context of climate change.
The marine biologist concluded his remarks by referencing the adaptive capacity of bluefin tuna and scientific advancements for its study. Following the pregón, conferences and debate panels on the world of almadrabas took place, including a talk by José Antonio López on women in almadrabas and a roundtable moderated by Teresa Carrillo.
