Traditional fish farming in the Venetian lagoon: past and present

摘要

An account is given of the historical, social, economic and land use value of lagoons used to farm fish in coastal lagoons in the Veneto region of northern Italy, focussing on the lagoon surrounding the city of Venice. The term 'vallicoltura' refersto an extensive farming system used in the past to control natural seasonal migrations of various fish (and shellfish) species, which would move from the open sea of the Adriatic into the shallow, warm, nutrient rich brackish lagoons. Systems of barriers and trenches were sometimes formed to aid the capture and manipulation of fish populations. The author cites documents dating from the 18th and 19th centuries in Venice, which outline regulations concerning the extent, ownership, and rents due from these areas of the Venetian lagoon. The regulations also specified exploitation of other lagoon resources by the fish farmers (e.g., wildfowl hunting, peat cutting). During the second half of the 20th century, traditional extensive methods were replaced insome areas by more intensive fish-rearing and farming activities, such as the construction of cages, the introduction of different (usually fast-growing) species, and the provision of fish feeds. This process occurred at the same time that hydrological works were constructed to control erosion and flooding, and pollution of coastal sea water as well as high nutrient loads in the rivers led to eutrophication of many lagoons. The author notes that if this traditional method of exploiting the Venetian lagoon were to be reintroduced, it would have many ecological and conservation benefits, and would complement other defensive measures in place to protect the city of Venice from flooding.