Phytoplankton - the foundation of the oceanic food chain.

Group of tuna in the eastern chamber of the trap at Favignana. Depth 22 meters.

Photo taken in the chamber of death in the trap at Favignana. Depth 16 meters.

Tuna ensnared near the mouth of the fish trap. Depth 25 meters. This tuna weighed 270 kilograms (approximately 600 pounds.)

Tuna processing plant at Favignana. The site where the decapitated tuna were hung was referred to as "IL BOSCO", (The Forest.)

The landed tuna were moved by trolley from the boat to the plant.

The chamber of death of the trap at Favignana.

A raised landing net brings the tuna to the surface.

A raised landing net brings the tuna to the surface.

A raised landing net brings the tuna to the surface.

The great slaughter is almost over, with only one group of now dead tuna left to be hauled aboard on the eastern side of the trap.

A large tuna is landed by a group of eight fishermen.

A 400 kilogram (880 pounds) tuna is landed by eight fishermen. This is a difficult and dangerous time when synchronized effort is required to land the tuna. Poor timing can cause the poles to break and a fisherman to land in the water. Some fishermen have died in this manner after falling overboard and being struck by the tuna tails.

A raised landing net brings the tuna to the surface.

The boats set off towards the trap at Stintino.

Starting fishery operations in the trap at Stintino.

A large tuna is landed by fishermen working together.

A large tuna is landed by fishermen working together.

A large tuna is landed by fishermen working together.

A large tuna is landed by fishermen working together.

The tuna caught are small to medium in size, requiring just four fishermen to land.

The small tuna are landed by two fishermen.

A short harpoon is used for the small tuna.

Large bluefin tuna caught in the trap off Stintino.

The landing net (the chamber of death) is hauled up from the eastern side.

Hydrofoils linking Favignana and Trapani pass very close to the western side of the nets. Noise from the hydrofoils scare the tuna away.

A bird's eye view of a passing hydrofoil and most of the netting complex. The mouth of the trap and the cod end extending landward can be clearly seen.

The Rais (leader) of Favignana Trap, Gioacchino Cataldo, built this scale model of the netting system which was useful for the fishermen to visualize the final configuration of the trap subsequent to setting it out.

The floating cross at the mouth of the trap. Excluding the statuette of St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, which is traditionally always the same, each Rais places his own images of saints. The cross serves the functional purpose of helping the fishermen read the currents. Slack water is the most desirable time to start the fishing operation.

A 250 kilogram (550 pound) tuna caught up in the nets is recovered by the trap diver and hauled aboard.

In the Grotta del Genovese. This small grotto has paintings dating back some 6,000 years, including the outline of a tuna and the outline of a dolphin.

Tuna boat from Fuenterrabia, Northern Spain

Using a purse seine to catch live bait on the tuna boat "Maria Reina de los Cielos" from Fuenterrabia, Northern Spain.

Filling tank with live bait on tuna boat to be used later in pole and line fishing for tuna.

Tank used for holding live bait on tuna boat.

Fishermen on the bridge using acoustic instruments to locate tuna. Lookouts also scour the water surface looking for signs of surfacing tuna suggesting the presence of a school.

Tuna boat from Fuenterrabia, Northern Spain

Pole and line fishing boat above a school of tuna. The jets of water facilitate fishing as they prevent the tuna from noticing activity on the deck. This technique uses live bait.

The live bait is thrown into the sprayed area to draw the tuna towards the boat.

The live bait is thrown into the sprayed area to draw the tuna towards the boat.

Fishing for tuna using pole and line while using live bait.

Fishing for tuna using pole and line while using live bait.

One fisherman holds the pole from the deck while another, higher up, pulls the attached cord when the tuna takes the bait.

One fisherman holds the pole from the deck while another, higher up, pulls the attached cord when the tuna takes the bait.

The tuna are hauled aboard with gaff hooks.

The tuna are hauled aboard with gaff hooks.

The tuna are hauled aboard with gaff hooks.

Placing tuna in crates before lowering to the cold store (refrigerated space.)

After fishing, any light damage to the poles is repaired.

After fishing, any light damage to the poles is repaired.