The last senne

Port-Vendres is a small port in the south of France, in the heart of the Côte Vermeille. Located just a few kilometers from tiny Collioure, home to famous painters such as Matisse and Dufy, it is the second-largest fruit port in the Mediterranean and the department’s only deep-water port. Many attractions make it a popular meeting place for foreigners, but it’s also a port rich in history and tradition, especially the « petits métiers » fishing industry.

When I decided to make this report, I had no idea that I would be the last witness to Lamparo fishing in this port. In the summer of 2018, two boats shared the harbor’s waters. The following year, only one remained. Today, there are none.

Let’s embark for the last time on the Sainte-Bernadette, summer 2018.

The Mediterranean is one of the least polluted seas. However, over the last 5-6 years, the size of fish, especially sardines, has been decreasing. It is not the biomass that is lacking, it is the pollution that is causing a growth problem in the fish, it is not growing. The decrease of the seedling is also a problem for the evolution of sardines. At that time, fishermen made between 24 and 30 pieces per kilo; the factories even refused the merchandise when the kilo was 32-33 pieces. Today, they make between 48 and 50 pieces per kilo. The fish can no longer reach their normal size. We talk about an exception when the fish is at the right size, the size of the time.