Nature

Sicilian Tuna Fishing in the 1950s

German photographer Herbert List captures life on the Aegadian Islands off the coast of Italy

Herbert List

Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara Tuna catch. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara Big pieces of Cork that keep the nets floating are being pulled up. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara It takes many helping hands to raise the vast nets slowly. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara Pulling the fish up to the surface, into the boat. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara Pulling up the huge fish is hard work. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara Fishermen with long spears give the fish the mortal blow. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara One by one the fish are being placed into carts. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara Every fish is being weighed under observation by the local police. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara 4 men are pulling the body of head- and tail-less fish across the floor. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara One by one the catch is being hoisted out of the boat. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara Cutting the fish into smaller pieces. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara Tuna catch. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara After boiling, the fish is being placed into trays to cool off. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara The owner of the canned tuna plant together with his Manager and the commander of this years Tonnara. The bicycle is the only method of transport on Favignana. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara The tuna is boiled in giant vats. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara After the mechanically cut meat has been boiled, it is being fished out of the giant vats. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara The big tuna steaks are trimmed by hand and placed into tins. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
Herbert List | La Mattanza - La Tonnara A Pyramid of empty tins are waiting to be filled with this seasons harvest. Favignana Tonnara. Sicily, Italy. 1951. © Herbert List | Magnum Photos
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