Moliceiros - traditional flat bottom fishing boats in Portugal

Useful Information

Portugal

Algarve

Alentejo

Central Portugal

Lisbon

Silver Coast

Towns & Places

in Central Portugal

Abrantes

Aveiro

Batalha

Constância

Coimbra

Castelo do Bode Lake

Dornes

Golegã

Fatima

Moliceiros are brightly coloured, flat bottomed fishing boats which were used to trawl the floor of Aveiro lagoon in Portugal for seaweed and eels.

The boats, which have distinctive curled prows, are powered by a long pronged oar in much the same way a gondola is propelled, though the Moliceiros also come with a small sail.

The boats though are not as common a sight on the lagoon as they once were. Though you can still spot

them moored at Costa Nova's marina and sometimes out on the lagoon with fishermen waist and sometimes chest deep in the water beside them.

It can be an interesting sport for a few minutes, while you sip your Cafe com Lait at a lagoon side cafe to see how many you can spot. Particularly rewarding if you see one being propelled in the traditional method with an ancinho (long pronged oar).

If you are unlucky enough not to spot any Moliceiros on the lagoon you can always take a trip to the Mueseu do Mar (Museum of the Sea) close to the lagoon in Ilhavo. The