Have you ever considered being a fisherman or fisherwoman for a day? Would you like to hear the stories of old sea wolves or savour prawns you caught with your own hands? Cap a Mar offers a unique experience that plunges you into Barceloneta's maritime culture alongside its main players: local fishers.
This totally innovative tourism initiative enables visitors to experientially discover the secrets of the trade of artisan fishing while also contributing to leaving a very positive mark on their most immediate environs. It is also a way of sharing an ancient and very necessary profession so that we can all value it more and be encouraged to care for the sea and consume local fish.
Authentic fishing experiences
Cap a Mar offers original, different, authentic experiences so visitors can discover the most genuine Barceloneta. Anyone with a thirst for adventure can climb aboard with the fishers and experience a full day of fishing, from preparing the nets to collecting the fish. You’ll leave the Barceloneta quay and sail to the Garraf fishing grounds, where you’ll engage in traditional prawn fishing. For lunch, you will savour a traditional seafarers’ dish crafted with fish just plucked from the sea.
For those who prefer to stay on dry land, Cap a Mar also offers tours of the Moll del Rellotge quay guided by a fisher, who will take you to the llotja or fish auction, explain the story of the clock tower and show you the boat mooring area. It is a great opportunity to discover a lesser-known charming corner of the city.
Learn about the sea with all five senses
With the aim of reaching all kinds of audiences, Cap a Mar adapts to the needs of each individual or group, offering activities for families, couples, and friends, as well as programmes for businesses and schools.
Children can become familiar with fish (and touch them, if they dare!) through creative activities and crafts workshops, like drawing and t-shirt printing. The stories and talks about marine culture combine fantasy and reality in an event where participants listen to stories and myths about the sea.
Likewise, with the dinners and tastings that they hold, you can get to know and sample different fish and traditional dishes from the Mediterranean Sea. This culinary experience allows you to savour fresh, locally sourced fish just before it reaches the table.
A different, committed kind of tourism
Cap a Mar is a project that sprang from a fishing family in Barceloneta, seeking to conserve and spread the cultural heritage of this often-forgotten profession by sharing its values and knowledge. The love of the sea is a cornerstone of their identity, so they want to raise all visitors’ awareness of the need to care for the environment as they work to minimise their ecological footprint.
As part of the Destination Barcelona Commitment to Sustainable Tourism, they partner with various organisations to promote job placement and strengthen community bonds in the neighbourhood. They also provide visitors with information about local businesses that typically do not feature in mass tourism routes.
Thus, Cap a Mar is committed to a tourism model that personally enriches users while promoting sustainability and respect for the natural environment, which is vital for the survival of activities like fishing. Its activities enable participants to discover life at sea first-hand by offering a high-quality experience that shows a different side of the city and helps to keep Barceloneta’s popular culture and maritime traditions alive.
