Here’s an explanation of these traditional fishing gear used by fishermen in the Balearic Islands:
Esparavel
Description: The “esparavel” is a type of hand-thrown fishing net.
How it works: It is circular and weighted around the edges. The fisherman throws it over a school of fish. The weights cause the net to sink and trap the fish underneath as the fisherman pulls it back in.
El Morenell
Description: “El morenell” is a kind of trap or small net.
How it works: This gear is used for catching moray eels and other similar fish. It is placed in the water, often among rocks or crevices where these fish are likely to hide, and left there to catch them as they move.
La Lienza
Description: “La lienza” refers to a fishing line.
How it works: It is a simple line with one or more hooks attached. The fisherman uses bait on the hooks to catch fish. This is a very basic and versatile fishing method, suitable for various types of fish.
La Moixonera
Description: “La moixonera” is a bird-like lure or trap.
How it works: This device mimics a small bird to attract fish. It could be a decoy or a trap designed to take advantage of predatory fish that hunt birds or similar prey on the water surface.
These traditional methods show the ingenuity and adaptability of fishermen in the Balearic Islands, using simple yet effective tools to harvest fish from the sea.
If you want to fish using any of this traditional fishing gear, you need an additional authorization from the Balearic Islands fishing department.
