Fishing Museum. Permanent Exhibition
The permanent exhibition is located in the Tinglado building, in the fishing port of Palamós.
Through an initial audiovisual prologue and 5 thematic areas, the visitor will discover the world of maritime fishing in our territory. The key to the permanent exhibition of the Fishing Museum is to find the origins of an active and lively world, as it can be seen in the fishing pier in the port of Palamós.
The design of the museum was the responsibility of the architectural firm Dani Freixes-Varis Arquitectes, a company that has great international recognition in the conduct of museums and exhibitions. Dani Freixes has been awarded the 2001 National Design Award.
0. What is the Fishing Museum?
The Fishing Museum, located in the middle of the fishing port of Palamós, shows the basic relationship between human beings and the sea. It does so in an open, participative and interpretative way, so that visitors fell that they are part of a story about fish and fishing, and leave the museum with a fresh look at this economic activity.
1. What is fished?
The Mediterranean Sea is a small sea but with a large diversity of ecosystems, habitats and species. In the western area more than five hundred different species coexist, although less than one hundred have commercial value. In fact, the Catalan fishing sector survives thanks to a dozen species. Catalan fishing is a daily activity that uses different fishing techniques, adapted to the different characteristics of each species.
2. Where and from where is fishing done?
The coast and the seabed condition marine life and the location of fishing grounds, fishing places. Some are closed to the coast and others are very deep.
The beaches and ports have always been central spaces for fishermen's work and have been used to protect themselves, their boats and their gear from storms. Today, captures are unloaded, traded and distributed to local markets as well as to international destinations.
3. Who is who in the fishing world?
The fisherman is the main character of the fishing life, but he is not the only actor. Next to it, a series of complementary and auxiliary jobs have been developed: shipwrights, caulkers, sail maker, mechanics, barrel makers, rope makers... Being a fisherman demands having several skills, knowledge, memory, wisdom, courage and spirit of survival. Its special relationship with the sea has built a culture and a way of being its own, identifies in the lexicon, beliefs, festive celebrations or gastronomy, among others.
4. Fishing techniques
In Catalonia, different fishing techniques are used, adapted to the target species and the habitat in which they live, whether from land or at great depths. Each system includes specific techniques and tools. The members of the boats also vary, between one and ten men, each with their own function
The most common techniques used in Catalonia are: bottom trawling, encircling nets, long line fishing and trammel nets.
During the twentieth century, technological change has been very important as sailing and almost instinctive fishing had become technologically sophisticated.
5. The future of fishing
If we are to continue fishing and the fishing industry is a qualified, dignified, respected and attractive profession, it must be a rewarding profession for young people, much more secure, much more participatory, less uncertain and more profitable. Fishing must be done while preserving the biodiversity of the habitats and species that live in it, and must do so intelligently for markets and consumers.
The Fishing Museum aims to be a space for reflection and dialogue to achieve this goal, as well as learning, experimenting and training its visitors. Only by making the full extent of the world of fishing and fish known, can the future of the fishing industry and its culture be helped to sustain.
