Barbate, Boat Tour to the Almadraba of Conil (Tuna Fishing)

Marine Atlantes

On the Conil Almadraba tour you will depart from the Barbate Marina and learn about its labyrinthine system of construction and placement of nets, large anchors.

Trafalgar Lighthouse

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While the crew narrates the history, evolution, operation and techniques of this three-thousand-year-old bluefin tuna fishing gear you will leave behind the mythical Trafalgar Lighthouse to head across the Atlantic to the Almadraba de Conil.

We will explain the migratory process that the Atlantic bluefin tuna has been carrying out in these waters on its way to the Mediterranean, through the Strait of Gibraltar, for thousands of years and how man has taken advantage of this fact for its exploitation and commercialization.

Approximately 1 hour of crossing will be necessary to reach the Almadraba de Conil. When the fishermen are ready, we will carry out our approach manoeuvre. To do this, and in order not to interfere with the delicate fishing manoeuvre that will take place, we will place our boat about 100 metres from the codend, the final part of the whole structure of the Almadraba, where the famous "levantá" will take place. Approximate reference location of the "Marine Atlantes" boat with respect to the fishing manoeuvre of a trap. We will explain in detail what we are going to witness and what are the factors that will determine the success of the fishing day.

When the currents in the Strait cease, coinciding with the exact moment of the change of tide, the manoeuvre will begin. In front of us we will observe the boat known as the "sacada", which is where the entire crew of the trap will be present to, on the Captain's orders, raise the codend net once the divers (frogs) give the signal that the tuna have passed under the boat. This moment is of vital importance, as the success of the day's fishing depends on it. Once the tuna have been secured, we will observe how, by "pulling" and lifting the codend net from a depth of about 30 metres, the "Sacada" approaches the closing boats, while the restless movement of the red giants near the surface begins to be sensed. Slaughtering techniques imported from Japanese culture, such as the "Lupara" and the "Ikeyime", will ensure the minimum suffering of the catch, guaranteeing the maximum quality of what is considered the best bluefin tuna in the world.

When the first boat loaded with tuna in its holds leaves the codend, it will be time to head back to port to wait to see, from our own boat, the unloading (not cutting up / grunting) of the tuna caught.

Catering that includes breakfast consisting of coffee and pastries on the way out and a tasting of tuna in its different varieties accompanied by drinks on the way back to the port.