Almadraba (a Spanish word coming from Andalusian Arabic: al-maḍraba, lit.: ‘the place to strike’; in Portuguese: almadrava) is an elaborate and ancient technique for trapping and catching Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). This fishing method is over 3,000 years old and evolved from a natural process: The principle of the almadraba is based on the fact that tuna move along the same routes in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean: In spring, they migrate from the nutrient-rich, cold waters of the Atlantic, carrying fat reserves, through the Strait of Gibraltar into the warmer Mediterranean to spawn. And in autumn, the young fish begin their return journey north. For fishermen, this was once one of the few opportunities to catch tuna themselves. From this practice, a tradition developed that continues to this day. read more…
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of 6.843 square kilometres (2.642 sq mi), it has a northern border with La Línea de la Concepción in Andalusia in Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region. At its foot is the densely populated city area, home to almost 30,000 Gibraltarians and other nationalities. read more…
