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4. The age of photography and films: modern times

When photographic techniques became available in the XIX century, the history of all images underwent great
change. After the development of portable photographic equipment, even pictures in remote places became
slowly available, improving in a considerable way the need for documenting many activities. The tuna trap
industry, with its fascinating structures and rituals, was one of the activities which had good photographic
documents from many places, but mostly from the Sicilian tuna traps.

There are many modern photographic books on the trap fishery and some are particularly important from a
documental point of view (Alliata di Villafranca, 1951; Aliffi et Al., 2007; Alongi et Al., 2008; Centola, 1999;
Consolo, 1987; Conte, 1985; Corso, 1952; D’Anzuso & Zinna, 1987; De Paoli, 1988; Díaz Ortuño et Al., 2010;
Di Bella & Meo, 1988; Di Natale, 1988; Di Stefano, 1970, 1976; Doneddu, 1983; Drago et Al., 1999; Falla,
2001, Farina, 1986; Florido del Corral, 2003; La Duca, 1988; Lazzaro Danzuso & Zinna, 1987; Lentini, 2004,
2008; Li Greci et Al., 1991; Lippi Guidi, 1993; Lo Coco, 2006; Lo Curzio, 1992; Lo Curzio & Sisci, 1991;
López Gonzales et Al., 2007; Manetti, 2001; Manzi-Giusi et Al., 1986; Mariotti, 2003; Martorana, 1995; Maurici
& Vergara, 1991; Montesanti, 1994; Narbona Olivier, 1982; Qualecultura, 1991; Quatriglio, 1991; Quilici &
Tamagnini, 2007; Racheli, 1986; Ravazza (2002, 2003a, 2003b, 2004, 2005a, 2005b; 2007; Regueira & Reguira,
1993; Ricotti, 1925; Ruiz-Acevedo & Lópéz–González, 2002; Salerno, 2009; Sarà, 1983, 1998; Silvestri, 2003;
Siragusa, 1980, 1986; Sorbello, 2010; Torre, 1999; Various Authors, 1918, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1994; Vivona,
1999; Volpi Lisjak, 1996).

Of course, it is not the objective of this paper to present many photographic images of the trap fishery,
particularly because many of them are related to the way of transporting or preparing the tunas or to the many
workers engaged in this activity or even the land-based plants. However, the documents on fishing techniques
are usually limited to the vessels, the structure of the death chamber or the slaughtery. Here it was decided to
present two patchworks of images: a first one with black and white photos, just to show a sort of short history of
the photographic images of some traps in the XIX century and in the first part of the XX century in Spain and
Italy (Figure 51); and a second one with color photos, showing some recent tuna trap activities in Sicily and
Sardinia, but also some building of land-based plants of tuna traps, for a better understanding of the relevance of
this fishery also from an architectural point of view and for industrial archaeology.

Several videos and films have been made on the tuna trap fishery in the last century. The most documental are
those by Alliata di Villafranca (2006), Hernández San Juan & Halffter (1956), Istituto Luce (1931), Quilici
(1970), Ravazza (2001), but most of the recent videos are produced by several TV productions and they are very
difficult to find.

Such photos and videos are finally creating a complete and insightful overview of the fishing activities of the
few remaining tuna traps in the Mediterranean and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

5. Conclusion

One of the important objectives of the ICCAT-GBYP, among others, is the recovery of historical data sets on the
tuna trap fishery, the only fishery which is able to provide extremely long historical data series. These will help
us to understand some of the variables known to occur from time to time, which also affect the yields of bluefin
tuna and which can also possibly help in the understanding of natural cycles in the bluefin tuna populations.

The iconography is a part of this historical recovery because it provides an insightful view of various important
technological variables over the last centuries which are not usually considered when analysing bluefin tuna data
originating from the trap fishery. This paper is a first attempt to assemble some examples, using only a minor
part of extensive iconography that exists on this ancient fishery. Further work is necessary to attribute the
individual technological characteristics to the many traps which were active between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Black Sea in the last centuries, in order to better attribute yields to specific gears. This immense task will require
time, funds and considerable effort over the next few years.

6. Bibliography

Adams W.M., 1883, A popular history of fisheries and fishermen in all countries, from the earliest times. Intern.
Fish. Exib. Lit., Handbook 1, part 1: 18-19.

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