The Remaining Fishermen
La Barceloneta has a historic fishing tradition dating back centuries, when the Mediterranean fishing industry formed the backbone of Barcelona's coastal economy. However, this ancient maritime heritage is now a sector in crisis, threatening to disappear entirely from Barcelona's waterfront as urban development and climate change reshape the city's relationship with the sea.
In 2012, there were 40 fishing boats operating from the Barceloneta dock; in 2020, there were barely 29 vessels remaining. This dramatic decline reflects a broader crisis felt throughout Catalonia's fishing industry, where the fleet has been devastated by overfishing, climate change, and economic pressures. In the year 2000, Catalonia supported 1,550 fishing boats; by 2016, this number had plummeted to just 814 vessels, representing a loss of nearly half the region's traditional fishing fleet.
This documentary photography project captures the daily reality of Barcelona's remaining fishermen, documenting a disappearing way of life that connects the modern city to its maritime roots. Many of the surviving fishing boats maintain nightly journeys, departing around 11 p.m. and returning between 8 and 10 a.m., following rhythms that have governed Mediterranean fishing for generations.
The fishermen are paid according to their catch, and their wages have been severely affected in recent years by the dramatic decline of fish stocks in the Mediterranean Sea. They catch significantly less and smaller fish than previous generations, a consequence of overfishing, pollution, and rising sea temperatures that have altered marine ecosystems throughout the region. Moreover, fishing remains a physically demanding and dangerous profession with constant risks, from storms to equipment failures, factors that discourage younger generations from entering the trade.
These photographs depict the daily life of fishing aboard one of Barcelona's remaining 29 vessels, the "Encarna y Miguel," dedicated to purse seining—a traditional Mediterranean fishing technique. Every night, its crew of 14 sailors set sail from Barceloneta, leaving behind the bright lights of Barcelona's tourist waterfront to work in darkness on waters that have sustained the city for centuries.
Through photojournalism, this project documents not just the technical aspects of traditional fishing, but the human stories of men whose livelihoods depend on an industry facing extinction. As Barcelona transforms into an increasingly gentrified tourist destination, these fishermen represent a connection to the city's working-class maritime heritage that risks being lost forever.
The work explores themes of urban transformation, environmental crisis, and cultural preservation, examining how globalization and climate change threaten traditional industries while cities prioritize tourism and real estate development over sustainable local economies. The fishermen of Barceloneta embody the tension between Barcelona's historic identity as a Mediterranean port and its modern role as a global tourist destination.
Barcelona, Spain. 2020.
