The Fish Market of A Guarda

About this heritage

A Guarda has a rich maritime tradition; fishing activity was and continues to be one of the main sources of income and economic development in the area. Coastal fishing is traditional, but nowadays deep-sea fishing holds great economic importance. Thus, the A Guarda swordfish fleet is one of the most important in Spain. Located on the pier of the town of A Guarda, the Fish Market is a modern building constructed with brick and cement in the 1980s. It has side gates for loading and unloading tasks. It is the facility dedicated to the auction of shellfish and fish. It is mandatory that the first sale of all fishing and shellfish products takes place here, under the responsibility of the holders of the authorization or concession of the fish markets such as guilds, cooperatives, vendors, or even the Port Authority itself in some cases.

It is at this first sale that the product's starting price is set and it is labeled for the first time. The label must specify the capture area, contact details, common and scientific name of the species, weight, production method and presentation indicating whether the product is wild or farmed, vessel data and fishing gear, capture and dispatch date, Fish Market brand, and traceability code. This brand may accompany the product throughout the commercialization process as long as the other operators in the chain are also certified users.

The labeling informs about the product's traceability and helps in choosing fish and/or shellfish, ensuring that the purchase is of a fresh, local, and quality product.

At the Fish Market of A Guarda, catches of fish and shellfish such as octopus, sea bass, hake, ray, pollock, sole, or goose barnacle can be found depending on the season. It is one of the few Galician fish markets where lamprey can be found during its season.

Currently, bidding is electronic and only accredited professionals can participate. It is possible to visit on weekdays from 4:00 p.m. onwards and see the fish market activity and the products offered on site.

The fishing port area is characterized by its typical narrow, multi-story, colorful sailor houses which, together with the docks, make the port a lively meeting point. Walking or cycling along the Paseo Marítimo and the Senda Litoral is recommended, where you can enjoy views of A Guarda's Atlantic facade.

The XIV Meeting of Traditional Boats of Galicia, organized by Culturmar (Galician Federation for Maritime and River Culture), an organization founded in 1993, was held at this port.

To learn more

The fish market of La Guardia is an attractive place due to the auction of fish and barnacles and the possibility of seeing boats unloading at the port or fixing nets to go fishing. Located on the quay of the town of A Guarda, the fish market is housed in a modern building constructed of brick and cement in the 1980s. It has side gates for loading and unloading tasks.

The Fishermen's Guild 'Santa Tecla' of A Guarda is an organization closely related to the fish market whose common goal is to act as a consultative and collaborative body with the Administration on matters of general interest, referring to extractive fishing activity and its commercialization, especially in the artisanal and leisure sectors, with its own specific heritage, self-government, and representation.

Also noteworthy is the work of the Redeiras de Baixo Miño Atalaia, who carry out their professional activity in a hut in the Net Shed within the port of A Guarda. They specialize in the making, assembling, preparation, and maintenance of different fishing gears and tackle such as Small-Scale Fishing Gear, Lampreiras, and Sableiras.

To diversify their work, they also conduct two types of activities: educational school workshops where the maritime trades of A Guarda and their importance for economic development in the area are introduced, and visits for tourists and the general public aimed at showcasing the work, craft, culture, and tradition of the net makers. The meeting point is the association's own work hut. It is also interesting to know the craft products made using artisanal techniques specific to their work but adapted to personal accessories such as bags, neck warmers, pendants, earrings, brooches, and headpieces, which are identified with the Galician Craftsmanship seal.

The XIV Meeting of Traditional Boats of Galicia was held in this port, organized by Culturmar (Galician Federation for Maritime and River Culture), an organization founded in 1993.

Some of the typical traditional boats in the Rías Baixas area are: the Dorna, made of wood forming a small deck and characterized by its navigability both by oars and sail. It is believed to have Viking origins due to its resemblance to the drakar used by Scandinavians. The remains of these boats, left during invasions attempting to besiege the coast, served as a pattern for ship carpenters to create this new boat at the time.

Another boat is the Galician Galleon or Rías Galleon, which due to its large size was used for transporting goods and fishing between the main ports of Galicia. Built with oak and pine wood, they were used approximately until the 1960s, and many were later employed as mussel rafts in some of the rías of Galicia.

The Trainera, originating from the Cantabrian coast and arriving in Galicia around 1900, coinciding with the rise of the salting industry. The trainera began to be used mainly for sardine and horse mackerel fishing. It had between 6 and 8 benches, propelled by oar or sail, characterized by its easy adaptability and lightness. It is very common to see trainera competitions both in Cantabria and in Galicia or the Basque Country.

And we must not forget the Gamela, one of the oldest boats used until recently by the fishermen of A Guarda for coastal fishing or as an auxiliary boat to a larger one. It is a small wooden boat about 5 meters long. It has flat bow and stern with a flat bottom and moves by oar or sail. Currently, the stern area has been modified to adapt an outboard motor.

To know it better

The municipality of La Guardia, in the province of Pontevedra, has always been very famous for its fishing activity and shellfish gathering. For many years, its coast has stood out for its waves and has shaped the future of families of fishermen.

The port of A Guarda, protected by a breakwater and surrounded by the old town, has a fish market located on its quay. There, fish and shellfish caught in this same municipality are auctioned. In each fishing port, there is usually a fish market. Besides becoming a meeting and gathering point for traders, this is the place where professionals must carry out, obligatorily, the first sale of all products. Currently, the fish market is managed by the Santa Tecla Fishermen's Guild and its auction is electronic. Only users who have permitted access can participate in this commercial activity.