Fishing in L'Estartit

In 1930, 130 fishermen lived in L'Estartit. Fishing was the most important activity until the 1960s.

Catching fish was very artisanal. The first ships were sailboats and were propelled by oars. From 1930 onwards, they were larger and used an engine.

Historically, two fishing techniques stand out in L’Estartit: bull fishing and sardine fishing.

In bull fishing, two llaguts or wooden boats are placed parallel at a certain distance, and they drag a large net to catch the fish. Bull fishing was practiced between October and April and employed around 60 people.

Summer was the season for sardine fishing. Blue fish, such as anchovies and sardines, were caught with gillnets and nets called sardinals. Almost the entire population participated.

With the sardine fishing, the salt factories came into existence.

From the year 1950, the fishing activity gradually lost importance, as it happened to many other towns on the coast.

In the case of L’Estartit, the lack of a large port, poor communication with important markets and the arrival of tourism gradually put an end to its fishing industry.