Who I am :

My name is Jaume Amengual Serapio and I would like to tell you a few things about my life. I come from a long line of fishermen. For seven consecutive generations there have been master shipwrights, skippers, mechanics and fishers in my family

All throughout my childhood, for many years, I sailed and fished with my father. In both lateen sailboats and motor boats we worked side by side using traditional fishing techniques. It was from my father who taught me how to build fishing tackles - trawl lines, gàngil de cadena, boleros. Some traditional fishing tackles, for example soltes, tremalls, teranyines, bous , and vaques are still in use. But unfortunately most of the traditional techniques that my father taught me are not used anymore.

Because of the shortage of fish I found it no longer a viable means of making a living. Also I had just become a father and wanted to play a more active role in the day to day life of my new son. In 1997 I decided to quit fishing. From then I began my studies to become a cabotage skipper and continued studying other nautical trades. Thus I embarked on a path different than my family's multi-generational tradition of fishing the sea.

My father:

Sebastià Amengual Taberner was born in Coll d'en Rebassa (1920-1996). His entire family worked in the trade of traditional fishing in Mallorca.

Since my childhood he taught me the art of fishing and building fishing tackles.

My life as a fisherman:

From very early in my life I set off on my father's boat and   fished. It was a wooden boat with traditional fishing tackles drenched with delicacy near the coast. I learned to drench, pull up the tackles and collect the fish that were caught in the nets.

As a child I was already accustomed to spending the summers fishing. The summer when I was nine years old, I started my first commercial lobster season in Cabrera.

Whiplash fishing

Later I returned to nautical school. I obtained my local fishing skipper degree on March 22, 1988. I went out again on our llaüt, AUBA, but this time as the skipper.  

As the skipper I was responsible for maintaining the boat. This involved tasks from painting to repairing all types of engine problems, both simple and complex.  

The fishing business:

In May 1993 I bought an 11m llaüt that had been built in San Carles de la Ràpita. I set out on my new llaüt, Marcos and in the tradition of my forefathers, continued in the fishing business.   

However, after fishing day after day I came to a realization that in addition to keeping up to date with the fishing business I needed to further my studies.  

In 1997 I obtained my degree in boat mechanics and became qualified as a 2nd class skipper of littoral fishing in the Mediterranean zone.

Stowing nets in the Bay of Palma

Stowing nets on Marcos' deck

But unfortunately the traditional fishing business entered in a stagnant decadence and I had to make a painstaking decision. In May 1997 I gave up the fishing business.

Passenger ships:

My first job outside of the fishing business was as a sailor for the company Excursions a Cabrera. This job entailed ferrying   passengers between Mallorca and Cabrera.  

In September 1997 my contract with Excursions a Cabrera ended and I enrolled at the Nautical School to study for a degree as both a cabotage and littoral fishing skipper.

In   December 1998, I was the 2nd skipper on a drag boat, Illa del Sol. This contract terminated on March 24, 1999 and 2 days later I began as the 2nd skipper on Rocio Segundo, a 30m sailing ship. I held this position until May 31, 2001.  

In June 2001, I completed the first level courses on sea survival and fire prevention.

In September 2001, in Madrid, I completed the second level courses in both specialities.

Lowering down the mainsail

Dredging in the Port of Pollença

For the academic year 1998-99 I enrolled at the Nautical High School to study for a degree as a cabotage main skipper.

From June 2001 until October 2001, I was the skipper on the passenger ship, L'Imperial-Jet.

On February 1, 2002, I became certified in the use of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

From the 5th of February 2003 to the 10 th of June 2004 I worked on a suction dredger for the company Ecodragados. I was the skipper as well as handling other tasks such as environmental and personnel management.

On October 11, 2004, while I was skipper on the Balear I started teaching for the secondary school, IES Son Ferrer in Calvià, Mallorca.

Presently I continue teaching in the secondary school system at the Nautical Fishing School in the West Dike of Palma. I teach fishing and biology in species of commercial interest.

         Other courses I have recently attended are:

•  Water atmospheric contamination (30h)

•  Ground and residue contamination (30h)

•  Work safety and prevention of work-related injuries (30h)

•  Safety and prevention in the workplace (30h)

•  Environmental management systems audit (30h)

•  Security measures in civil works (30h)

•  Symposium about formworks HORMA and rule HD 1000 (20h)

I have also taken part as a teacher in the fair Futur Jove for two years (2 credits) and participated in defining professional qualifications for the Conselleria d'Educació de les Illes Balears (the Balearic Education Ministry).