Salvaged Fishermen of Lake Maggiore: "Cooperative Rescued From Peril of Extinction"
In the heart of Piedmont, Italy, the Cooperativa Pescatori Acquacoltori del Golfo di Solcio stands as a testament to the resilience of traditional lake fishery in the face of numerous challenges.
Founded in 2005, this cooperative, presided over by Giorgio Brovelli, is one of only two existing cooperatives in the Lake Maggiore basin. The cooperative manages two restaurants - Osteria "La Vecchia Scuola" in Lesa and restaurant "Da Gio'" on a barge in the Gulf of Solcio - in addition to dealing with fishing, processing, and selling fish.
The cooperative maintains mobile racks and nine vessels in Solcio, Dormelletto, Arona, Meina, Solcio, and Cannero. The fishermen employed by the cooperative, numbering 26 in the summer season and 21 for the rest of the year, earn a monthly wage ranging from 1,400 to 1,500 euros.
Fishing is a physically demanding job that requires a passion to continue with age. An experienced fisherman like Brovelli, who fished for 20 years with the historic cooperative of Stresa and learned from his fishing master, Giuseppe (Pepi) Ruffoni, can catch nearly a hundred quintals of fish a year.
However, the profession of lake fisherman, particularly in Piedmont, is at risk of disappearing due to climatic factors, changes in dietary habits, competition from industrial fishing, and regulatory restrictions. In the past, there were 120 fishermen on Lake Maggiore, but the number has decreased to 10-11.
The Borromeo prince granted Brovelli and another fisherman from his cooperative the authorization to fish in the waters of the entire Lake Maggiore. The cooperative members must pay a concession to the Borromeo family to fish in the waters from Solcio to Sesto Calende. The annual cost of Borromeo fishing rights for the Gulf of Solcio Fishermen and Aquaculture Cooperatives is 30,000 euros.
It is challenging to find individuals who choose to become freelance fishermen. Those who master the trade can choose to become freelancers, keeping a portion of their catch for themselves.
Cooperatives like the Cooperativa Pescatori Acquacoltori del Golfo di Solcio address these challenges by collectively organising fishermen and aquaculture producers, pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and strengthening bargaining power in the market. They also adopt aquaculture practices, integrating fish farming alongside or instead of traditional wild fishing, to provide more stable income sources and reduce pressure on wild fish stocks.
The decline of lake fishermen in Piedmont is largely tied to reduced wild fish availability, environmental degradation, and economic shifts. However, cooperatives help by uniting fishermen to innovate and sustain their livelihoods through aquaculture and cooperative marketing strategies. While specific detailed actions of the Cooperativa Pescatori Acquacoltori del Golfo di Solcio were not found in the current search results, cooperatives in similar Northern Italian lake regions commonly focus on balancing traditional fishing heritage with modern aquaculture techniques to adapt to environmental and market challenges.
The Cooperativa Pescatori Acquacoltori del Golfo di Solcio, extending its reach beyond fishing, ventures into the home-and-garden market by adopting aquaculture practices, allowing for the integration of fish farming alongside traditional fishing. As they strive to provide more stable income sources and reduce pressure on wild fish stocks, they also explore lifestyle markets, offering fresh, sustainably sourced seafood for discerning consumers who value the authenticity of local products.
