waters which transport significant amounts of their eggs and larvae from the Gulf of
Cadiz (Pérez-Rubín and Abad 1994). The respective massive temporal presence of
three Clupeiforms (anchovy, sardine and gilt sardine, Sardinella aurita) could reflect
cyclic episodes of warming/cooling of surface waters (Pérez-Rubín 1996).
23.4 Early Fisheries and First Artisanal Fishing Industries
The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (1232–1492) was extended across the northern
coast of the Alboran Sea, from the Strait to Cabo de Gata, including—until the
Reconquest—the current Spanish provinces of Malaga, Granada and Almeria. An
influential Genoese colony already trading in salted anchovy from Malaga through
its active port would become one of the most important in the Mediterranean (Martín
Acosta 2010). The particular fishing wealth is also documented in certain coastal
sectors in relation to the populations of Almuñecar, Bezmiliana (with tuna traps),
Salobreña (commercial and fishing centre) and Marbella, with an abundance of
sardines (Malpica 2009). In the late fifteenth century, the elaboration and commercialization of anchovies and salted sardines in Malaga were the main local industry.
An influential Catalan and Valencian commercial colony was established and traded
with the handmade, salted anchovy in Malaga, which came to be demanded on a
large scale by the eastern Spanish trade (Ruiz Povedano 1987).
The production generated an important maritime export trade and was even
transported to distant markets of the Late Middle Ages (López Beltrán 2001). This
industry exported thousands of barrels of anchovy and sardines annually, from
Malaga and Marbella to different European countries. Sometimes, these provisions
travelled to the antipodes, like the 200 barrels of anchovy from Malaga that were
shipped in 1519 for the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan to the Moluccas Islands in
the Pacific Ocean, along with other Andalusian species of dried fish (FernándezNavarrete 1964).
In order to repopulate Fuengirola in 1502, 20 families were economically motivated to settle under the protection of the military fortress, and it was recommended
that two-thirds of this population should be fishermen and small purse seiner boat
owners called “jábegas” (López de Coca 1975). In the current provinces of Granada
and Almeria, since the sixteenth century, the presence of towed traps to catch tunas
and small species of tuna is documented (Abad 1995–1996). Other historical sources
(Malpica 2009) located tuna traps in La Herradura and in the vicinity of the current
town of La Mamola (Granada), famous in those days for its abundance of Atlantic
bonito (Sarda sarda).
In the Malaga ordinances of 1611 (Martín Acosta 2010), a great diversity of fish
species that landed on the beaches of Malaga and Granada were still mentioned,
pointing out those of greater commercial importance and the variety of fishing
techniques used, with four different types of net gears, hooks (longlines) and pots.
In these municipal ordinances, 22 species of fish or varieties are mentioned, plus the
generic name to refer to very small fish, called “morralla.”
780
J. Pérez-Rubín
Cadiz (Pérez-Rubín and Abad 1994). The respective massive temporal presence of
three Clupeiforms (anchovy, sardine and gilt sardine, Sardinella aurita) could reflect
cyclic episodes of warming/cooling of surface waters (Pérez-Rubín 1996).
23.4 Early Fisheries and First Artisanal Fishing Industries
The Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (1232–1492) was extended across the northern
coast of the Alboran Sea, from the Strait to Cabo de Gata, including—until the
Reconquest—the current Spanish provinces of Malaga, Granada and Almeria. An
influential Genoese colony already trading in salted anchovy from Malaga through
its active port would become one of the most important in the Mediterranean (Martín
Acosta 2010). The particular fishing wealth is also documented in certain coastal
sectors in relation to the populations of Almuñecar, Bezmiliana (with tuna traps),
Salobreña (commercial and fishing centre) and Marbella, with an abundance of
sardines (Malpica 2009). In the late fifteenth century, the elaboration and commercialization of anchovies and salted sardines in Malaga were the main local industry.
An influential Catalan and Valencian commercial colony was established and traded
with the handmade, salted anchovy in Malaga, which came to be demanded on a
large scale by the eastern Spanish trade (Ruiz Povedano 1987).
The production generated an important maritime export trade and was even
transported to distant markets of the Late Middle Ages (López Beltrán 2001). This
industry exported thousands of barrels of anchovy and sardines annually, from
Malaga and Marbella to different European countries. Sometimes, these provisions
travelled to the antipodes, like the 200 barrels of anchovy from Malaga that were
shipped in 1519 for the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan to the Moluccas Islands in
the Pacific Ocean, along with other Andalusian species of dried fish (FernándezNavarrete 1964).
In order to repopulate Fuengirola in 1502, 20 families were economically motivated to settle under the protection of the military fortress, and it was recommended
that two-thirds of this population should be fishermen and small purse seiner boat
owners called “jábegas” (López de Coca 1975). In the current provinces of Granada
and Almeria, since the sixteenth century, the presence of towed traps to catch tunas
and small species of tuna is documented (Abad 1995–1996). Other historical sources
(Malpica 2009) located tuna traps in La Herradura and in the vicinity of the current
town of La Mamola (Granada), famous in those days for its abundance of Atlantic
bonito (Sarda sarda).
In the Malaga ordinances of 1611 (Martín Acosta 2010), a great diversity of fish
species that landed on the beaches of Malaga and Granada were still mentioned,
pointing out those of greater commercial importance and the variety of fishing
techniques used, with four different types of net gears, hooks (longlines) and pots.
In these municipal ordinances, 22 species of fish or varieties are mentioned, plus the
generic name to refer to very small fish, called “morralla.”
780
J. Pérez-Rubín