The daliani, or “thynneio”, is a traditional means of professional fishing in the Amvrakikos. It consists of two wooden towers, each constructed of three beams in the form of a pyramid, 8 to 10 metres in height. Under the water, between the towers, a special net is laid out, attached with ropes to the towers or to boats. It is then raised to trap the fish.
When the observer, seated on one of the towers of the daliani, sees a shoal of fish above the net, they give a signal to their colleagues to pull on the ropes, raising the net and trapping the fish. The main catch with the daliani is the grey mullet, used to produce the renowned Ambracian fish roe, which is preserved by drying.
The “Dalliani” fishing system was or is used throughout the Amvrakikos. And in Preveza in the areas northeast of the Lascara peninsula, in the Strait of Preveza but also earlier in Vathi – Psathaki and Margarona. In particular, the “Daliani” used in the Amvrakikos Gulf and in Preveza has the following structure.
In principle, there are one or two wooden watchtowers made of 3 pieces of wood about 8-10 meters high. The observer fisherman climbs and sits in the observatory under a shadow. Around the observatory, underwater nets are laid out in a circle and connected by ropes either to the shore or to boats on the periphery. When a school of fish floats above the spread nets, the observer sees them and gives the sound signal. On the cue, the inshore fishermen or fishermen pull the nets in sync and the school of fish is now captured in the air.
