Modern tuna boat

One of the peculiarities of the modern fishing industry in the Basque Country is the extent to which craft fishing techniques have survived, backed by modern technology. Despite motorisation they continue to use the technique of trolling, which with the adoption of cold stores has allowed fishing voyages to be extended. From the middle of the twentieth century, trolling had to compete with live–bait fishing. This new technique was imported a few years before from California and managed to take a foothold amongst the larger tuna boats, with trolling restricted to smaller tuna boats and sports vessels. It is worth noting that the two systems used still at this time by Basque fishermen are both highly selective and offer consumers the best quality fish.

Multi-purpose diesel-powered tuna boat. 1940. The replacement of steam by diesel, completed by the 1940s, freed up more space on board. The coal store, boiler and fresh water tank for the steam were replaced by refrigerators for storing the fish. This increased the number of fishing days and enhanced productivity. © José Lopez

Development of the bow and stern of the fishing vessels. The change in the boat’s profile is associated with an increase in engine power, as vessels were adapted to local sea conditions. © José Lopez

Tuna boat from the 1970s. During this period, fishing boats already carried electronic navigation and fishing equipment. They incorporated a motorised net-lifter, meaning that it was no longer necessary to pull in the nets by hand, significantly improving working conditions on board. © José Lopez

Albacore, (Thunnus alalunga. Bonn). © José Lopez

Modern tuna boat from the 1990s. Today's large deep-sea tuna boats incorporate the most advanced tuna-catching technology. They cast an enormous encircling net, which is spread out with the help of powerful launches. The boats are guided by helicopters carried on board. Among other areas, they now fish in the great fishing grounds of the Indian Ocean. © José Lopez

Steam ship from 1910. This is the ship that was to oust the traditional sail-powered fishing boats. Their principal success lay in the fact that they could still operate in the calm periods common to the summer months when the tuna visit these coasts. © José Lopez

17-metre tuna boat built in 1952, showing fish tanks and rods. The larger boats soon opted for the technique of live bait, relegating the trolling system to the smaller boats. This technique requires having fish tanks on deck in which to keep the beita (from the English “bait”), usually consisting of species such as sardine and horse mackerel. © José Lopez

Tuna. © José Lopez

Tuna boat from the 1970s. Orio. This was the last period in which traditional wooden tuna boats were used; some were built in steel to the same measurements and proportions and vessels of up to 35 metres in length were built. This period marked the decline of timber shipbuilding in the Basque Country. © José Lopez

Tuna boat in polyester. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, tuna boats began to be built in polyester, like this one made in the Olaziregi shipyards in Hondarribia. These new units have a transom stern, leaving plenty of room to work on deck. The change in the outline of the vessels has been linked to an increase in the power of the engines. Similar boats have also been built, al-though of greater size -with a steel hull- in the Luzuriaga shipyards in Pasaia. They are fitted out with the most advanced technology. © José Lopez