The Sea Urchin

Porto Badisco and the sea urchin

The sea urchin is a marine invertebrate. When adult, it is made up of five equal segments that hold the edible coral. Globe-shaped and covered in movable spines, urchins nestle among the rocks.

With its particular sea and jagged coastline, Porto Badisco is a perfect natural habitat for this delicacy.

Besides gathering and selling sea urchins, the fishermen of Porto Badisco also practised a special kind of fishing called “Chiangiolo”. It was done with a mother boat, called the “chianci”, and a smaller boat carrying a lamp, the “lampara”. The light of the lamp drew in a great quantity of fish; the mother boat then cast its nets all around to stop the fish from escaping. The catch was then poured into the “chianci”.