I start by emphasizing that this work on the Marnoto salt extraction has a deep personal resonance since it portrays an activity that most likely my ancestors had. Having Marnoto as the surname of my family, all of my paternal side comes from Ilhavo, a village very close to Aveiro, having lived very closely since very young with the culture of the sea, fish and salt water. Today the Marnoto name is synonymous with this type of sea salt that is used for gourmet cooking.

The Marnoto is the worker that in the months that range from spring until late summer is engaged at Salinas or Marines (as they say in the jargon in Aveiro) in the production of salt. In a work that is divided between the rake and fill the trays with fresh water, and pull the break after the salt crystallization, and finally load the salt in heavy basket on their heads, is a craft that requires great physical effort, under an intense sun on a robust and tanned body.

Breaking the salt – collect the salt to the middle of the Pitch.

Rere - Pull the salt to the low side on its plot.The collected salt.

An activity that dates from around 959 A.C., according to the available records, was once an activity of great economic and social glow in the region of Aveiro. But the last decades with the expansion of global market competition and the salt industry have left understandably less room for the economic survival of the Marnoto, and increasingly a touristic value but not enough to rescue the situation.

Bolir - Stir the plot for the salt that will then crystallize during the rest of the day until the next morning.The feet of a Marnoto on the salt Marines.

Opening the trays so the levels above leak new water to the lower thresholds and therefore kick off a new cycle of crystallization of the salt Marines/Salinas.

There are becoming less and less Marnotos which engage full-time with the activity, with only a few others to devote their spare time and virtually nonexistent a new generation who will continue the tradition.

The Marnotos preparing to collect the salt with their showy hats termed rodilha properly "cushioned" in order to better support the weight in the head. And just like the old times, they continue to operate in underwear because the salt corrode any clothing and sun invites the breeze of the body under great phsical exercise.

The Marnoto collecting and carrying the salt, still using traditional baskets termed Canastras. When they are completely charged with salt it can weigh on average between 50 to 70kgs., requiring great physical effort.

Unless quick and assertive measures remedy the situation that we know always difficult to result in very complicated times, the Marnoto is an activity in disappearance in front of our own eyes, soon only to appear in the documentary records of social and cultural value, and part of our collective memory.

The fatigue is evident after carrying all the salt to the main Mount near the local barn.

 

Sunset under the Marinas/Salinas.