In the picturesque region of Rias Baixas in Galicia, Spain, an enchanting ballet unfolds upon the waters – the dance of the ‘bateas,’ wooden platforms meticulously designed for the cultivation of mussels and other mollusks. Typically adorned with nets and supports, these platforms become the nurturing grounds for oysters and mussels. The ingenious design of these bateas allows for the preservation of the delicate ecosystems crucial for their growth. Over time, algae begins to flourish on their supports, while a diverse array of fish gracefully glide beneath.
Venture along the coastline of the Ria de Vigo estuary, and it’s impossible to overlook these peculiar squares, gently swaying on the waves.
These platforms are essentially grids crafted from sturdy wooden planks, to which ropes are affixed – the very ropes that secure the mollusks. One of these ropes typically serves as an anchor line. Suspended just slightly above the water, but not so high as to invite the wrath of the waves, these grids span no more than 27 meters.
The concept of creating such platforms was born in the early 20th century when French fishermen realized that mussels, adhering to the poles used for drying nets, grew faster and larger than those left to cling to rocks. Spain adopted this innovation through Catalonia, where they initially experimented with specialized boxes for cultivation. Eventually, these boxes evolved into repurposed, anchored boats, before the development of the distinctive bateas we see today.
