Spain: The fishing weirs of Chipiona (Part 1) – European Commons and OECMsArticle by Diana Neacsu in dialogue with Raimundo Díaz
Photo: The late Francisco Reyes González (“Aguilita”), a true cornerstone in preserving the tradition during its darkest period, as he pulls his tarraya (circular net) from a jarife during the harvest at the “Mariño” Corral. Even in his 80s, he continued the harvesting of his two corrals during both low tides (daytime and nighttime).
Stretching along the shorelines of Chipiona, Spain, the corrales de pesca—historic stone fishing weirs—offer a glimpse into a centuries-old fishing practice that has been both a livelihood and a tradition. Dating back at least six centuries, these ingenious structures are a testament to ancient craftsmanship that is still in use today. Raimundo Diaz, a longstanding member of Jarife, the local common dedicated to the preservation of this fishing practice, took us on a journey connecting the present with the past. What we learned along is both fascinating and humbling.
A legacy of ingenious design
Photo: The fishing weirs of the Las Canteras Beach
Built with large stones at the base and filled with smaller rocks and gravel, these walls house small openings called caños. These channels allow seawater to flow in and out with the tide, creating mini ecosystems teeming with life. As the tide ebbs, fish and other marine creatures become stranded in shallow pools, creating a natural fish trap. These pools, with evocative names like La Barreta, Los Hoyos (the Holes), and El Rincón (the Corner), serve as fishing grounds for the community. For generations, local fishers would gather here to collect their catch, ensuring a steady source of food while preserving the area’s ecological balance.
One member of Jarife shared a striking fact: before the early 20th century, there were no fishing boats in Chipiona. The corrales alone provided enough fish to sustain the population and even allowed for an export of dried fish, a sizeable stream of income for the town for generations. These weirs were so effective and so valued that, according to local history, they even supplied food to Napoleonic prisoners stationed in Chipiona during the early 19th century.
The story behind Jarife
Photo: Tools for traditional fishing (marisqueo)
Preservation: when there's a will, there's a way
While the corrales have long been a source of community pride, they have faced numerous challenges in recent decades. In 1988, Spain’s Coastal Law integrated the fishing weirs into the public maritime domain, eliminating private ownership. The communal heritage of the weirs was suddenly at risk, as individuals no longer had the incentive or means to maintain them. Without proper upkeep, the structures began to deteriorate, and the future of the corrales looked bleak.
That was when the Jarife common was formed. Today, the group has developed a unique management model based on administrative concessions from local authorities, allowing the weirs to be maintained and utilized communally. But, as Raimundo explains, the association’s future still hinges on continued support from the authorities.
Through Jarife, the fishermen of Chipiona are not only preserving the corrales but also advocating for a legal framework that would ensure their longevity. In 2004, the association secured a temporary authorization allowing them to fish within the weirs, although with restrictions that prevented many members from participating. With this authorization set to expire in 2024, Jarife has applied for an extraordinary renewal, hoping to expand activity zones and include more members in the traditional fishing practices that make the weirs such a vital part of their community.
Tides of history
Photo: Reproduction of the official decree settling the conflict, signed by Isabella of Castilla and Ferdinand of Aragon
The corrales carry stories as enduring as the stone walls themselves. One such tale is a conflict over the weirs in the Middle Ages, when the powerful Medina-Sidonia family clashed with the noble Ponce de León family for ownership of these lucrative fishing grounds. The dispute became so intense that it required the arbitration of Spain’s Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella of Castilla and King Ferdinand of Aragon. The resolution of that dispute survives in an official decree, written in the script of Old Spanish, preserved by the Jarife Association as a reminder of the weirs’ historical significance.
Looking to the future
For the Jarife common, preserving the corrales is as much about the future as it is about honoring the past. Maintaining these fishing weirs requires a delicate balance between tradition and adaptation. With environmental challenges like coastal erosion and changing sea levels, the association has taken steps to fortify the walls and safeguard their unique ecosystem. Additionally, they have undertaken extensive research, combing through historical archives for records that will reinforce their right to protect this heritage.
The corrales de pesca stand as a reminder of a time when nature and community were inseparably linked, and when fishing was not only a profession but a way of life. As they continue to advocate for the preservation of these ancient weirs, the members of Jarife invite us to see the corrales not just as relics of the past but as symbols of resilience, cooperation, and a profound respect for the natural world.
Read here Part 2 of the series: The fishing weirs of Chipiona.
Take a virtual stroll to corrales de pesca here.
Photos courtesy of Asociación de Mariscadores JARIFE