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Abstract

The present dissertation analyses the history of fishing and the use of tuna fish,

setting out from the origins to this day and age.

The first part describes the intrinsic characteristics of the different commercial

species, while the second part focusses on the profound influence and the

fundamental role tuna fish had in the cultural and economic development of

coastline Mediterranean populations – with particular reference to the

Phoenicians.

The essay concentrates on the reasons why and the way in which tuna fish lost its

importance during the Middle ages and how from the beginning of the XX century

an exponential increase in tuna fish catch was however recorded. The reasons for

such a sharp rise, from fishing techniques, to culinary trends, to the inefficiency of

many regulatory frameworks are object of this study as well as the subsequent

ecological, economic and social consequences.

The conclusions highlight the changes in the perception of this animal from

prehistory to today, correlating such changes to its current overexploitation.

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