Albufera

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The Albufera is a freshwater lagoon on the coast of Spain, 7 miles (11 km) south of Valencia. It is the main part of the Albufera Nature Reserve (Parque Natural de la Albufera), with a surface area of 21,120 hectares. Its proximity and easy access from the city of Valencia facilitate nature-watching. The whole year long, the great bio-diversity of this protected natural space means a great variety of fauna and flora can be observed.

It lies within the municipal areas of Valencia, Alfafar, Sedaví, Massanassa, Catarroja, Albal, Beniparrell, Silla, Sollana, Sueca, Cullera, Albalat de la Ribera and Algemesí.

Since 1990, the Albufera Nature Reserve has been included in the list of wetlands of international importance for birds established in virtue of the Ramsar Convention of 2 February 1971, and since 1991 it has been included in the ZEPA Areas (Zone of Special Protection for Birds).

The most important traditional use made of the zone has always been and today continues to be fishing. From prehistoric times the rich fishing in the lagoon attracted men there, specialising in this activity.

Fishing was legally recognised in year 1250, when fishing regulations were laid down for the El Palmar Fishing Association (residents of the Valencia extramural parish of Russafa who settled permanently on the island of El Palmar to work more conveniently) and which would then be applied to the fisheries of Silla and Catarroja.

Until the lagoon's catchment area started to become industrialised, fishing generated substantial profits, as the clean waters of the lake provided a great diversity and abundance of fish ("gambeta", "petxinot", eels, bass, etc.).

At present, catches of bass and eels have dropped considerably, while those of mullet and American crab (a species introduced in the 1980s) have increased.

Rice is another traditional use, though much more recent (18th century), and it has great economic and environmental importance, because in the rice fields (where the water of the lake is purified) there are plant and animal species that have disappeared from the lake itself. Furthermore, they give food and shelter to many birds.