Aveiro - Seaweed-fishers
An unusual harvest is gathered by the moliceiros of Aveiro, the seaweed-fishers with their characteristic boats, the barcos moliceiros; they fish up seaweed (moliço), used as a natural fertiliser, from the Ria de Aveiro.
The moliceiros sail their wooden boats, with naïve pictures painted in bright colors on the high prow and stern, through the many branches of the estuary, gathering the seaweed with large rakes.
The moliceiros sail their wooden boats, with naïve pictures painted in bright colors on the high prow and stern, through the many branches of the estuary, gathering the seaweed with large rakes.
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When the shallow vessels have a full load the "crop" is landed or loaded into ox-carts in the shallows. The boats are up to 15m/50ft long and 2-2.2m/6-1/2-7ft wide. If there is sufficient wind a trapezoid sail is hoisted; otherwise the boats are propelled by long poles or towed along narrow channels by long cables.
In recent times the number of boats has fallen from its original total of over a thousand to about thirty. The once busy and profitable trade of seaweed-gathering is now gradually dying out because of the increasing use of artificial fertilisers. As the demand for seaweed has fallen the moliceiros have begun to harvest wrack-grass (junco) which is dried and used as litter for livestock. The difficulty of making a living and the drift of young people to the towns, however, mean that few young men are now prepared to take up this ancient trade.
During the Festa da Ria, held annually in the second half of July, the last of the moliceiros take part in a regatta, with contests of skill and a competition for the finest paintings on the boats.
In recent times the number of boats has fallen from its original total of over a thousand to about thirty. The once busy and profitable trade of seaweed-gathering is now gradually dying out because of the increasing use of artificial fertilisers. As the demand for seaweed has fallen the moliceiros have begun to harvest wrack-grass (junco) which is dried and used as litter for livestock. The difficulty of making a living and the drift of young people to the towns, however, mean that few young men are now prepared to take up this ancient trade.
During the Festa da Ria, held annually in the second half of July, the last of the moliceiros take part in a regatta, with contests of skill and a competition for the finest paintings on the boats.
