Ethnographic Research
Traditional fishing practices offer a window into the methods of capture that evolved around the available resources, marine biota, and the natural environment. These methods are sparsely recorded and rapidly disappearing, for which a survey of traditional methods via interviews is conducted.
Interviews were started in October of 2024 with several fishermen across Treporti and the Palude di Burano (NE of the Venetian lagoon).
The methods of fishing included: leister fishing for mullets and eels with artificial light (fagiaroto); fyke net fishing for crabs (seragia); and fish rearing at ponds (valli), for gilthead seabream, seabass and grey mullets.
There was a focus on the tools and techniques of these methods and the fisherman's knowledge of their origins and the use of more traditional materials by their predecessors. The fishermen were also questioned about environmental factors, ecological changes and additional challenges to their fishing practices.
The seasonal variation of fishing techniques would be further assessed with continued questionnaires in the spring and the start of a new fishing season, including additional techniques of interest.
Feedback from fisherfolk has been influential in the archaeological investigation of fishing practices, based on the partial evidence available from archaeological sites.
The questionnaire has developed around preliminary conversations with fishermen and the information they are willing and able to share.
A range of subjects are covered, including: environmental conditions, ecological changes, species diversity, species behaviour, economic restrictions, technological changes, traditional practices (both ongoing and abandoned), fishery management, seasonal changes, supplementary practices, and acknowledged cultural origins.
Fishermen are also given free range to discuss aspects that may not be significant for the current study but may prove so in future. All subsequent interviews have had an audio recording and photographs have been taken.