This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 6 2025.
Cofradía de Sant Pere is an association of fishermen with medieval roots based in La Rapita along the Mediterranean coast between Barcelona and Valencia. Today it is managed by José Luis Navarro, and its members target several species including seabass, seabream, eel, flatfish, mullet, and blue crab.
The Cofradía de Sant Pere, a collective organisation of local fishermen, traces its origins to 1114, marking it as one of the oldest institutions of its kind. Throughout the years members of the cofradía worked together with the local administration to regulate fishing activities and manage resources. Today, it is still an essential part of local life, with around 280 active members, though the number has seen a decline in recent years due to an aging population and generational shifts in interests. The cofradía’s members primarily operate in coastal lagoons, where freshwater from the Ebro river mixes with seawater, creating a nutrient-rich environment for various marine species, including blue crabs.
Blue crabs are both a resource and a threat
One of the most significant changes in recent years has been the rapid spread in local waters of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), an invasive species feared for its disruption of native ecosystems as well as the impacts on fishing gears. First detected in the Ebro delta in 2012, the blue crab’s explosive population growth was a cause for concern, as it outcompeted local species and also preyed on them. According to Mr Navarro, local fishermen were alarmed as the crab aggressively spread, killing off other marine life, destroying their nets and consuming quantities of valuable shellfish. To combat this, the cofradía, in collaboration with local authorities, began regulating the crab’s fishing, making it a targeted catch rather than a bycatch. This move was essential to reduce its population and ensure that the crab didn’t continue to harm the biodiversity of the area. Managing the predator called for a series of steps that culminated in a management plan approved in 2018 that had the support of all the stakeholders. Among the initial steps was a monitoring programme which sought to evaluate the blue crab situation in the Ebro delta and control the population. Researchers from ICATMAR calculate that between 2016 and 2023 catches amounted to 1,865 tonnes which generated an income of EUR4.5m. The average first sale price was EUR3.9/kg. Most of the catches, close to 70%, were in the two bays Fangar and Alfacs with 20% caught in the river Ebro. Sampling stations were established in the bays, river, sea, and lagoons and crabs were caught in traps to capture biological (sex, size, weight, etc.) data. The researchers found that the blue crab was an important resource for the fishers and they emphasise the importance of promoting the blue crab market and maintaining the first sale price to minimise the blue crab population and to preserve the environment. Mr Navarro notes that fishing methods for blue crab have evolved significantly. At the beginning of the invasion, the approach was volume-driven to land as many crabs as possible to alleviate ecological pressure, while initial prices stood at around 1 EUR/kg, and occasionally lower. Today, the average fisherman can capture 50 to 60 kilos of blue crab per day, with a market price of around 4 euros per kilo.
Various fishing gears used to target blue crab
The methods used by the Cofradía de Sant Pere reflect a balance between tradition and modernity. The cofradía worked with the administration to enable the use of all kinds of gear to catch the crab. A second priority was to ensure that only professional fishers were permitted to catch and sell the crab, says Mr Navarro. If catching and selling the animal was open to all, it would have an impact on the price and fishers would lose the incentive to target it. The local police and the fishers themselves patrol the fishing areas to prevent unlicensed fishing. Catching the crab still employ techniques passed down through generations, such as the use of traps called gangil, which are designed to capture various species like eels, crabs, and fish. Other kinds of traps are used in the sea. Irrespective of the gear, the crabs are caught live and after being harvested have their claws tied together to prevent them from attacking the fishers or the other crabs, and maintain their good quality for a higher first sale price. A significant feature of the region’s fishing practices is the rotation system for certain species, including eels, which are allocated to a few members of the cofradía each year via a lottery. This system ensures that fishing is sustainable and that the stocks are not overexploited, maintaining healthy populations for the future. The crabs like the fish and bivalves are sold through an auction if the cofradía also manages an auction. Fishers in cofradías which do not manage an auction sell their catch either to the closest auction or to a cofradía that is associated with an aution, which is the case of the Cofradía de Sant Pere.
Gears used to trap blue crabs dry in the sun before being placed in the lagoon again.
Fishing does not attract the next generation
Despite its historical significance, the Cofradía de Sant Pere faces numerous challenges, particularly when it comes to attracting new generations to join the profession, as it is happening in other areas of the fishing sector. The younger generation, according to Mr Navarro, is less inclined to enter the fishing industry, preferring to pursue careers in other fields like administration. This shift is causing the number of active fishermen to decrease, with many aging members nearing retirement. Furthermore, the community faces environmental challenges, including climate change and pollution, which are increasingly impacting local fishing practices. Rising water temperatures, particularly in the summer months, make conditions less ideal for certain species, while changes in water salinity are also affecting the health of local marine life. The area’s proximity to rice fields, which can increase water pollution, further complicates the situation, as it interferes with the delicate balance needed for healthy fish stocks.
The Cofradía de Sant Pere faces a balancing act. On one hand, it must preserve its historical practices, ensuring that traditional methods of fishing and resource management are maintained. On the other hand, it must adapt to new environmental challenges such as the rise of invasive species like the blue crab and the impacts of climate change, as well as a shifting labour force that no longer views fishing as a sustainable career. Successfully negotiating these dynamics will take skill, support, and some luck.
