Chronology

  • ca. 3000 bC
  • The first evidences of fishing activities in Sesimbra date back do around 5000 years, as shown by the discovery of two stone fishing net weights unearthed during archeological works.
  • Roman Empire
  • Construction of a fish salting manufacturing unit in the center of Sesimbra’s bay. Export of fish throughout the Roman Empire proven by the finding of 55% of the anchors discovered i nthe portuguese coast.
  • 8th Century
  • Even after the muslim’s ocupation of the Iberian Peninsula Sesimbra’s fish continues to be of great importance in feeding the community.
  • 13th Century
  • 1201

    King Sancho’s I royal charter, that established Sesimbra’s council, is the fisrt written reference to the fishing activities in this region.

  • 1247

    Document concerning a covenant between the King and the Order of Santiago states reports that foreign ships came to fish in waters of Sesimbra.

  • 1255

    Donation letter of King Afonso III decrees that residents of Sesimbra and its vicinity who were engaged in fishing activities should pay the tithe to the Order of Santiago. A manuscript also refers, for the first time, the capture of whales and bottlenose dolphins.

  • 1282

    A King Dinis document refers the existence of a Sea Alcalde, charged of watching over the town and its maritime community.

  • 14th Century
  • Introduction of new fishing methods, including acedares, type of seine net, and almadravas, a type of large scale fish trap, designed to catch sardines and tuna.
  • 15th Century
  • King João II issues a Letter to the Seafarers of Ribeira, document preceded by a letter of privileges in favor of Sesimbra’s fishermen , issued by King João I.
  • 16th Century
  • 1506

    A permit by King Manuel I mention fishing grounds located in front of the town as the richest. Catch of sardines with acedares is so high that there was the need to import salt from Castile for their conservation, since this species was an indispensable food supply to the fleets participating in Overseas Expansion.

  • 1563

    Importance of acedadar workers in Sesimbra was such that they elected to the Confraternities of Espírito Santo, of Corpo de Deus and of Corpo Santo, two judges and a butler, as much as the remaining fishermen.

  • 1588

    Revenue generated by the fishery in the seas of Sesimbra is superior to the ones of brazilwood’s monopoly.

  • 17th Century
  • 1610

    Sesimbra has five almadravas, three more than in 1577. In 1636 there were six.

  • 1655

    A document of the council of war of King João IV mentions an attack of a Muslim army, composed of seven ships and seven boats, to the Almadrava of Baleeira, given the high profits earned the almadravas.

  • 19th Century
  • The Second half marks a turning point for fishing activities with the introduction of the Valencian Fish Traps, aimed at catching sardines, scads and mackerels. At this point a group of fish canning factories, which labored until the second half of the twentieth century, is created.