Molos di Pesca of the Canale Destra Reno

The fishing structures consist of a platform built above the watercourse, usually with a rustic accommodation hut upon it. Derricks equipped with ropes and winches raise and lower large fishing nets in and out of the water. In the canal it is possible to catch all sorts of fish, from catfish, carp, and eels to bream, perch, chub, and mullet. At the saline waters near the mouth of the river, these machines can catch a mix of freshwater and saltwater fish.

In this region, the structures and nets are generally smaller than the trabocci constructed on rocky promontories on the Adriatic coast. Those larger machines are used to harvest fish directly from the sea.

The easiest way to see these fascinating structures is to drive along the SS309 coastal highway and park in the parking lot of the Antica Romea restaurant where the road crosses the Canale de Bonifica in Destra del Reno. The structures are visible to the north of the parking lot and can often be seen in action. The canal was built in the 1880s and originally functioned very much as an open sewer but, now much cleaner, it is important for irrigation and fishing.

Local roads run either side of the canal and a stroll or cycle along the waterway is well worth the effort. On a bike, a visit to Cassal Borsetti is easily within reach.