1996a). For that reason, the exploitation of demersal and benthic species on the
seabed of the continental shelf was moderate. These species were caught with simple
gear “jábegas” nets (which could fish close to the bottom) and a variety of specific
nets for sharks and meagre (Argyrosomus regius), as well as pots and hooks aimed at
deep-sea fish. The largest volume of demersal fish for exports was composed of
hake, cured conger and pickled sparids (Pagellus spp.).
Throughout the eighteenth century, bottom trawling was highly controversial in
Malaga, until its definitive ban in 1783. In 1702, the first discussion between the
fishermen of the city and the foreigners who used primitive bottom trawls (with
individual boats, precursor of the trawling pairs or “bous”) took place. Initially,
the population of Malaga welcomed this new capture technique because it reduced
the price of fish for local people and convents (Reder 1991). In the eastern sector of
the Alboran Sea, the foreign vessels were mainly incorporated to the towns of
Almeria, Roquetas, Dalias, Adra, Albuñol, Almuñecar, Nerja and Velez-Malaga
(Fernández and Martínez-Shaw 1984). Among them were the Catalan vessels
“laudes,” who worked in Almeria, Nerja and Malaga, and after having sold their
catch on the nearby beaches, they returned to their places of origin with loads of fish
skins (shark hides) or dried fish (Reder 1991). The first three pairs of modern sailboat
trawlers from Malaga were conceded in October 1766: two for the supply of the city
and the other for the military garrison. These vessels had 10–12 men each and could
operate 9 miles away from the coast but needed strong winds to sail. For that reason,
the most appropriate seasons to operate were autumn and the beginning of winter.
Although they used to catch all types of living animals from the seabed, the most
frequent or abundant species were large and small hake, red mullet (Mullus
barbatus), flat fishes and sparids. Their catches were so abundant that it was
calculated that in 6 h, they obtained the same amount of fish as the other techniques
(nets, hook gears and pots) which took 48 h to obtain (Fernández and Martínez-Shaw
1984). There is also information about the temporary use of bottom trawl nets on the
beaches of Mijas and Fuengirola at least during 1777–1778 (Reder 1991), with high
daily catches of hake obtained during winter time in this virgin seabed (60–180 kg
per vessel).
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the king granted the noble Count of
Lalaing two pairs of bottom trawlers for Malaga (1801) again, although they did not
operate frequently. The number of these trawlers increased to seven pairs in 1814
and continued to rise. Years later, fishermen’s associations related to the owners of
the “jábega” fishery, protesting against the use of the two granted vessels because
their fish was 25% cheaper. They would commit themselves to compensate the heirs
of the countess so that these vessels could not fish anymore (Fernández 1866).
During the last decades, in certain seasons, part of the Valencian fleet fished in
Malaga (Estepona-Sabinillas sector). Other fishing vessels from the Levantine area
migrated to the waters near Melilla. In the latter and in the Strait of Gibraltar, a new
fishing modality with well-boats (ships with integrated seawater tanks to transport
live fish) began (Viruela 1995). In 1895, two steam trawlers, which fished individually, started operating in Malaga.
23 A Historical Approach to Living Resources on the Spanish Coasts from the. . .
785
seabed of the continental shelf was moderate. These species were caught with simple
gear “jábegas” nets (which could fish close to the bottom) and a variety of specific
nets for sharks and meagre (Argyrosomus regius), as well as pots and hooks aimed at
deep-sea fish. The largest volume of demersal fish for exports was composed of
hake, cured conger and pickled sparids (Pagellus spp.).
Throughout the eighteenth century, bottom trawling was highly controversial in
Malaga, until its definitive ban in 1783. In 1702, the first discussion between the
fishermen of the city and the foreigners who used primitive bottom trawls (with
individual boats, precursor of the trawling pairs or “bous”) took place. Initially,
the population of Malaga welcomed this new capture technique because it reduced
the price of fish for local people and convents (Reder 1991). In the eastern sector of
the Alboran Sea, the foreign vessels were mainly incorporated to the towns of
Almeria, Roquetas, Dalias, Adra, Albuñol, Almuñecar, Nerja and Velez-Malaga
(Fernández and Martínez-Shaw 1984). Among them were the Catalan vessels
“laudes,” who worked in Almeria, Nerja and Malaga, and after having sold their
catch on the nearby beaches, they returned to their places of origin with loads of fish
skins (shark hides) or dried fish (Reder 1991). The first three pairs of modern sailboat
trawlers from Malaga were conceded in October 1766: two for the supply of the city
and the other for the military garrison. These vessels had 10–12 men each and could
operate 9 miles away from the coast but needed strong winds to sail. For that reason,
the most appropriate seasons to operate were autumn and the beginning of winter.
Although they used to catch all types of living animals from the seabed, the most
frequent or abundant species were large and small hake, red mullet (Mullus
barbatus), flat fishes and sparids. Their catches were so abundant that it was
calculated that in 6 h, they obtained the same amount of fish as the other techniques
(nets, hook gears and pots) which took 48 h to obtain (Fernández and Martínez-Shaw
1984). There is also information about the temporary use of bottom trawl nets on the
beaches of Mijas and Fuengirola at least during 1777–1778 (Reder 1991), with high
daily catches of hake obtained during winter time in this virgin seabed (60–180 kg
per vessel).
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the king granted the noble Count of
Lalaing two pairs of bottom trawlers for Malaga (1801) again, although they did not
operate frequently. The number of these trawlers increased to seven pairs in 1814
and continued to rise. Years later, fishermen’s associations related to the owners of
the “jábega” fishery, protesting against the use of the two granted vessels because
their fish was 25% cheaper. They would commit themselves to compensate the heirs
of the countess so that these vessels could not fish anymore (Fernández 1866).
During the last decades, in certain seasons, part of the Valencian fleet fished in
Malaga (Estepona-Sabinillas sector). Other fishing vessels from the Levantine area
migrated to the waters near Melilla. In the latter and in the Strait of Gibraltar, a new
fishing modality with well-boats (ships with integrated seawater tanks to transport
live fish) began (Viruela 1995). In 1895, two steam trawlers, which fished individually, started operating in Malaga.
23 A Historical Approach to Living Resources on the Spanish Coasts from the. . .
785