Artisanal Fishing in Venice

Yesterday, we arrived in Venice, which is definitely one of the most beautiful cities we've visited so far. Venice is situated on the Italian waterfront and many canals run directly through the center of town. We took a walking tour of the city yesterday afternoon. Although we were incredibly cold during the tour, we learned a lot about the importance of the waterfront in Venice.

The waterfront plays several different roles in the lives of Venetians. In addition to being a means of transportation, a source of drinking water, and a tourist attraction, the water allows Venice to have a thriving fishing industry. One of the products harvested from Venetian waters is the Manila clam.

Over the years, methods for harvesting clams have changed significantly. Today, many fisheries drive large boats through the waters of the Venice lagoon. These boats use large propellers to lift sediment and clams off the floor of the sea. Then, large nets collect the clams so they can be processed and sold. Although this method is economically efficient, it tends to negatively impact both the environment and the surrounding community.

On the other hand, there are some artisanal fisheries that use methods of harvesting clams that are better for the environment and the community. These fisheries are very small and use traditional boats and nets to collect their clams, which has a much smaller impact on the health of the lagoon than the methods used by mechanical fisheries. Also, while mechanical fisheries negatively impact the success of nearby fisheries, artisanal fisheries do not. Finally, because artisanal fishing is done by hand, these fisheries are a better source of employment for people who live near Venice than mechanical fisheries that rely more heavily on technology. In a community that depends on the water, it's incredibly important to practice use sustainable fishing methods to protect the health of the environment and the Venetian community.