Fishery in Cape Verde

6 February 2013

For a change the wind was completely gone and we were overlooking a smooth sea. The ‘Oosterschelde’ is swaying slowly on the long swell in the bay. While we prepare for a day of maintenance, the fishermen sail out from Santa Maria. Most of them in small wooden boats with an outboard motor, but today we also saw a few under sail. The sails were not made of normal fabric but whatever was available that could be used as a sail. But the triangle formed sails that they use seem to be very effective.
There is a boat that is a bit bigger than the rest, with a net. On board about 10 men. The net is best to be described as a long curtain with on top corks that float on the surface and about 5 metres long. They set it out in the bay and pulled in to a half circle with a small boat. Then the swimmers go into to the water. Under water they watch the fish and by clapping on the surface with their hand chase the fish in the directions of the net. Meanwhile the small boat sails to the fishing boat and makes the circle complete. Then the net is closed from below. Then the swimmers come on deck to help with the heavy lifting. While the net is getting smaller and smaller you see the fish jump. A few take a good one and manage to go over the cork and jump into freedom. Most of them are not so lucky. The catch of the day is a rowboat full of mostly a kind of mackerel fish and some porcupine fish. An hour later the fish is for sale on the pier.