France: La Prud’homie des Patron Pêcheurs – Palavas-les Flots

France: Traditional local community fishing along the Mediterranean coast – the case of Palavas-les-Flots – European Commons and OECMs This article was adapted and translated from a publication by the Prud’homie des Patron Pêcheurs – Palavas-les Flots

Photo: ©La Prud’homie des Patron Pêcheurs – Palavas-les Flots

All along the French Mediterranean coast are local community fishermen who control the rights to their area of the sea.

The institution of the Prud'homie

A prud’homie is a community of master fishermen who collaborate on a defined territory and have the power to manage their fishery resource with a view to sustainable and lasting fishing.

Dating back to the 13th century, this makes it one of the oldest French maritime institutions. Following the imperial decree of 1859, the Mediterranean fishermen have preserved this power to manage fishing. In total there are 33 prud’homie along the French Mediterranean coast.

The prud’homie of Palavas-les-Flots territory extends over 30 km of coastline, from Frontignan to La Grande Motte, and stretches to territorial waters, which are up to 12 nautical miles offshore.

Photo: ©La Prud’homie des Patron Pêcheurs – Palavas-les Flots

The role of a Prud'homme

A Prud’homme acts as a representative of the master fishmen. His mandate involves the exercise, under the supervision of the maritime administration, of a series of regulatory, disciplinary and judicial powers. In addition, he is responsible for resolving any disputes and conflicts in the field of fishing. He adapts the management of the fishing territory according to the evolution of the regulations and the social, economic, ecological and political issues. To be eligible, it is necessary to be at least 35 years old, have a minimum professional experience of 10 years as a fishing master within the prud’homie and be elected by one’s peers.

Climate change adaptation and the prud'homie of Palavas-les-Flots

The small fishing trades are facing climatic, political and socio-economic challenges that threaten their future. That’s why the prud’homie wants to carry out a fisheries management plan.

The main objective is to ensure a balance between professional fishing and the preservation of marine resources. By mobilizing the community and including new stakeholders, we are seeking to create a sustainable future.

Photo: ©La Prud’homie des Patron Pêcheurs – Palavas-les Flots

A prud'homal cannery

United by our shared passion for fishing, the sea and good products, we are considering creating a prud’homal cannery dedicated to promoting artisanal, local and responsible fishing. Our main objective is to control the entire supply chain, from raw material to marketing.

Zoom on the Palavas cantonment area (RMCP)

The Marine Reserve of the Palavasian Coast was initiated in 2016 by the Prud’homie of Palavas and the municipality of Palavas-les-Flots. Aware and alarmed by the decline in resources, the fishermen wanted to protect one of the richest areas in biodiversity in order to preserve it. A prud’homme is above all a fishing master committed to the preservation of his profession and his environment. Proud of this collective initiative, we are working on future prospects so that future generations can perpetuate our ancestral tradition of fishing.