The Re-enactment of the Tratta Fishing

Thanks to a group of passionate volunteers, many of whom also own the traditional boats moored in the canal port, every summer the famous “tratta fishing” is re-enacted on Ponente beach at dawn.

“Tratta” is a traditional type of fishing that has not been practiced for decades, but which holds great fascination both for its gestures, which almost resemble a silent dance, and because, unlike other types of fishing, it takes place under the eyes of the public. Tratta, in fact, is carried out by taking a net offshore with a small boat, then slowly retrieving it by hand from the beach by two teams of “trattaroli” (tratta fishermen) who must move in a rhythmic and coordinated manner.

The beach is now a very popular and crowded place, and therefore the fish caught is truly minimal in quantity and quality; however, the importance of the re-enactment lies in keeping alive and passing on a “know-how” that would otherwise be lost. Tratta is prohibited by current regulations, but the Maritime Museum – which coordinates and supports the group of volunteers who perform it – has exceptionally managed to obtain a derogation authorization from the Ministry of Fisheries, thanks to the support obtained from the Central Institute for Intangible Heritage of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, which certified the importance of this recovery on a cultural level.

Tratta – like all activities involving traditional boats – takes place thanks to the collaboration and supervision of the Cesenatico Port Authority, which ensures that everything is carried out in complete safety and in compliance with the rules: this too is a valuable collaboration that has allowed the success of the work carried out by the Cesenatico Municipal Maritime Museum for the safeguarding and enhancement of maritime cultural heritage.

It is important to remember that the initiative can be cancelled even a few minutes beforehand if the weather and sea conditions are not good.

Photo Marina Carlini