tonnari

Tonnari are fishermen associated with tonnare, traditional tuna traps used in the Mediterranean Sea. The term is most closely linked with Italy, where tonnare have operated for centuries, especially along western Sicily and in parts of Sardinia and the Aegean coast. A tonnara is a complex network of nets, ropes, gates, and buoys designed to guide migrating tuna toward a confined area for harvesting.

The tonnari were responsible for maintaining the gear, guiding the fish, and conducting the seasonal catches. During the peak of the fishery, crews worked in coordinated shifts to manage entrances, prevent escapes, and ultimately secure the catch. The final phase of the operation, often called the mattanza in Italian, involved driving tuna into the trap and harvesting them in a controlled manner. The role of the tonnari was central to the economic and social life of the coastal communities that depended on the fisheries.

From the mid-20th century onward, modern fishing methods, regulatory changes, and declines in tuna stocks led to a contraction of tonnare activity. Many structures were abandoned or repurposed as museums, cultural centers, or tourist attractions, while some villages retain annual events and stories that commemorate the tonnara tradition. The historical figure of the tonnaro remains a symbol of coastal Mediterranean maritime heritage.

Related terms include tonnarelli, a pasta shape named for the historic tonnare, reflecting the cultural link between the fishing tradition and regional cuisine.