PRIMARY SECTOR IN VIGO: YEARS

INDEX ● Introduction. ● Vigo's port beginnings. ● Fishing techniques. ● Fishing takings. ● Aquiculture. ● Technical advances. ● Effects on people. ● Importance of fisheries in the economy of Vigo.

INTRODUCTION In this presentation we have focused on the Vigo's fishing port, from 1800 to the present. The reason why we have chosen to dwell on fishing, is that it is the primary sector activity more important place.

VIGO'S PORT BEGINNINGS First growth: In 1788, the construction of port infrastructure in the Areal was approved. Construction work began in 1791, awarded to Eustaquio Granini, for 100,000 reals. Lazareto in San Simon in In 1821, promotes the merchant traffic with America and Europe, which had already begun in the previous century. In 1850, the Interior Minister, Manuel Cortina describes the port growth: "It is proverbial and recognized by all the nations the maritime importance of Vigo, which, without too much effort,is going to be one of the best ports in the world." In 1857 the first stone of the pier has been placed.

VIGO'S PORT BEGINNINGS First structures: Berbés: This district was born around 1700 as a refuge for sailors from Redondela, who return home when the sea was choppy. So they slept in this small bay called San Francisco (by the convent). The Ports Act of 1880 defined Vigo's port as an interesting and strategic one. In 1887, the Board of Works and Services of the Port of Vigo was created. Despite its strong merchant traffic, the only infrastructure in the port was a small dock at A Laxe. In 1893, the Board began the extension of the port and ordered the construction of an iron pier. This pier entered in service the same year. Bouzas' port was built in 1904.

VIGO'S PORT BEGINNINGS His relationship with the canning industry: The local fishing fleet, which supplies to the already powerful sardine industry salting and canning. In 1922, the canning industry extends throughout the estuary, with a plethora of plants that take advantage of strong domestic and international demand. In 1960, Vigo's important fishing fleet was at the Grand Sole, which is now known as the Irish Box, their usual fishing grounds. Another important was the cod fishery in Newfoundland waters.

VIGO'S PORT BEGINNINGS The great revolution of World's Fisheries: In the early years of the sixties in the port of Vigo the circumstances that immediately derived into the greatest revolution of the world of fishing. On November 1961 the Lemos, freezer first ship of the Spanish fleet, returned from his first campaign in South American waters, filled with wineries. Two months later the Andrade would do the same, but from South Africa.

TECHNICAL ADVANCES The experiment: the distant fishing grounds and freezing of fish on board had been highly satisfactory. New fishing industry was born and with it, new companies were born too. Freezer trawlers were needed and ten yards of the river.

EFFECTS ON PEOPLE Ten yards of the ria, which employed over 3,000 people, started making freezer vessels using the new technologies. It was the first market port of fish in the world and the first of fresh fish trade in Spain. The vast majority of people worked in the world of fishing. Also fishmongers, shipyards, ice vendors, netters, longshoremen, women charged ice, cleaned the fish.

AQUICULTURE

CATCHING Sardines, crab, lobster, razor clams, cuttlefish, xouba, whiting, cod, tuna, chincho, bream, swordfish, mussels, monkfish, cod..... These are many of the spicies that arrive at the port of Vigo. A portion of all those kilos were exported by truck and other villages.

Fishing techniques For technical change there were two wars. In Vigo, the most fished were the sardines and the traditional way was: THE XEITEIROS, you see a shoal of fish, you throw the bait and when it arrives you throw the net. Xeiteiros were confronted to the TRAIÑEIROS, who used two large nets carried between two boats, which destroyed everything. Catalans paid to continue with this technique. It started another war, the A ARDORA; sardines shoal shine at night, the boats leave at night and when they see a shoal of fish they caught it. To support a boat at night was more expensive and when you throw in the nets of fish you grab all kinds of fish and ended up with the shoal.

Seiteiros e traiñeirosardoral They go out Early and they Arrive at the midday

Importance of fishing in Vigo In total in June 2012: 7,378,500 kilos, 2.9 million kilos of fishing were exported by truck; 987,431 kilos exported to towns, local consumption, smoking dry and refrigerated chambers. Annual discharge of fresh fish in 2011: 84,264 tons Annual discharge of frozen fish in 2011: 689,711 tons.

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