In the province of Rome, on the coast north of Civitavecchia, lies the port of Santa Marinella, a small community where, in addition to private boats, some of the last professional fishermen of the area dock.
Most of them are elderly, having been in this profession for decades, and now more than ever, they face economic difficulties due to rising management costs and the dramatic reduction in catch. I listened to their stories, embarked with them, and witnessed firsthand how hard the work still done in the old-fashioned way is.
During the night navigation, they showed me the enormous vessels on the horizon that take most of the fish from the sea, which can no longer approach the fishing areas near the coast. The only two young fishermen live every day in indecision about whether to quit or continue: hours of work with schedules opposite to the normal flow of life, with an economic return close to zero. The fishermen of Santa Marinella, the last unconscious guardians of this ancient craft, persevere in a slow and silent lifestyle choice in a distracted and noisy world.