Page 3 - match_made_Italy2003

O u t a n d a b o u t

Tourism and fisheries

A match made in Italy

In scads of coastal regions, small-scale inshore fishing and
tourism exist side by side. In Italy, during the summer,
these two activities combine to form a new practice that
has been growing in the peninsula for the last few years:
‘pescaturismo’, fisheries tourism. On the small Sicilian
island of Marettimo, Francesco, a fisherman, and his
father Nino have found pescaturismo an attractive way
of diversifying their activities. Tourists are equally
enthusiastic.

Fishing is now one more tourist
attraction on the island of Marettimo.

it into a seaside resort, appreciated in particular by
yachtsmen and divers. But here, in the heart of the reserve,
all activities are regulated to protect the environment.
© Mostra!
Twenty years ago, the Lega Pesca came up with the
idea of combining these two activities into one to give
At the extreme northwest tip of Sicily, in Italy, the holidaymakers the chance to learn more about a little
administrative district of Favignana is made up of three known trade while creating a different type of tourism,
islands: Favignana, the biggest, shaped like a ‘farfalla’ closer to nature. Ettore Ianì, President of Lega Pesca and
(butterfly), Marettimo and Levanzo. Three small patches of one of the driving forces behind pescaturismo, remembers:
terra firma surrounded by the protected marine reserve of ‘We wanted to find a new way of conserving resources and
the Egadi Islands, which covers 54,000 hectares. giving fishermen extra income. Also, the general public was
showing more and more interest in the environment at the
In this Mediterranean paradise said to have been visited time. So we decided to put the two together.’ In 1992, a law
by Ulysses, small-scale coastal fishing is an integral part on pescaturismo was passed .
1
of the landscape. In Marettimo especially, 10 vessels
ranging from 8 to 10 metres long work the neighbouring ‘But the law was too strict’, continues the President. ‘For
waters, under the leadership of the local co-operative, example, it banned the boarding of passengers under the age
San Giuseppe, which is itself overseen by the national of 14. So families with children couldn’t take part. Fishermen
fishermen’s association, Lega Pesca. Another 70 or so craft, were not very inclined to make the investments needed to
now used for marine tourism, are docked at port or in dry comply with drastic safety standards. In 1999, all that was
dock for repainting. changed with a new law and pescaturismo blossomed as a
result.’
Nino and Francesco, father and son, along with their
families, make a living from fishing all year long. They ‘In the early stages’, recalls Salvatore Braschi, President
engage in multi-species fishing, taking what the sea offers of the San Giuseppe Co-operative, ‘when I approached
according to the season or nature’s whims. Donning their fishermen with the idea, they were very reluctant. They did
waxed overalls at dawn to go out into the translucent not feel capable of taking up such an activity. Probably out
waters surrounding their village of 1,000 souls is second of shyness and modesty.’ Today this type of project exists
nature to them: they could just as well be going out to in all Italy and has the support of national fishermen’s
work the vegetable garden... associations. For example, Lega Pesca now has no fewer
than 16 projects running smoothly, in northern and
Two activities in one southern Italy alike and about 22 co-operatives belonging
to the Federcoopesca are also involved in pescaturismo.
In the summer, a second activity flourishes in Marettimo.
Tourism doubles the population of the island, transforming (1) It has been replaced by Ministerial Decree 293 of 13 April 1999.

4 | n° 18 - August 2003 | Fishing in Europe