Last Wooden Tuna Boat From San Sebastián Saved

The last wooden boat catching albacore with a traditional Basque fishing technique has been saved from the wrecking ball and will be restored to its former glory. The ‘Ozentziyo’ was built in 1990, but was forced to stop fishing as the tuna migrated too far from the coast, a problem that more smaller vessels faced at that time. When its owner retired, the Albaola Maritime Culture Factory, shipyard museum in Pasaia, Spain, purchased the boat to preserve this cultural heritage.

The boat is equipped with an ancestral fishing method called perches (used in whale and cod fishing traditions) and has a direct link to old sailing boats. The restoration will take place in San Sebastián and is an educational project that is open to the public to follow the progress. The goal is to transform the boat into an icon of the city. Several initiatives are being developed to ensure its preservation and maintenance. Cultural projects and initiatives are also being launched around the ‘Ozentziyo’.