The black gold of Portonovo, increasingly precious, increasingly in demand. Yesterday, at four in the morning, the two fishermen of the Portonovo Cooperative, Massimo Manganelli and Massimiliano Stecconi, made their first dive in the waters in front of the bay to collect the most awaited mussel of the season, the famous wild mussel. At eight o’clock the first return which usually serves to satisfy the first customers and avoid the long queues that are created in front of the cooperative every year on the first day of fishing. First trip with a quantity reduced by almost half compared to the norm. Il Carlino spoke about it with Massimo Manganelli to find out more. “The situation is positive – he said – this year we will suffer a little but next year there will be plenty. All the rocks are covered with seed together with the middle ones. We fished from the Trave upwards because towards Portonovo there is only seed In the week we will see what is available in other areas. Obviously to take the measures established by the specifications you have to stay in the water a lot, you have to choose them and you have to be content with taking a few. Next year we will not take more there is a risk that the wild mussel will disappear. Nature alternates years of abundance with years of lack.
As soon as the two boats returned, the Cooperative was practically stormed and a long queue of people was created, among which there was also someone who had booked the moscioli and boasted some sort of priority. The price which rose to seven euros per kilo did not stop them. Also attending the first arrival were some chefs from the bay, ready to find out whether the mosciolo can be served in their restaurants or not. Mario Giacchetti of the Cooperative was keen to reiterate: “Since this was born and lives in Portonovo, the mussel should be purchased in Portonovo from private individuals who come down and from the restaurants in the bay. The quantity is so small that it is not really possible to take it out of Portonovo. We have a fish shop in Numana and one in Osimo but in these conditions we do not supply them. Even with restaurateurs we try to be impartial by giving everyone the same quantities”.
For thirty years, the Cooperative has had a concession area off the coast of Portonovo where mussels grow, not bred in braids but in cages, which allow reproduction much closer to that which occurs on the reef. These mussels are sold, of course, as farmed. “In this period in which mussels were not fished – highlighted Federica Rubini of the Emilia restaurant – we served farmed mussels, obviously informing the customer and writing it on the menu. They are good, grown well and when you open them they smell excellent”. Lorenzo Zappi, Marcello’s chef, is also of the same opinion: “They are good, it is important to let the customer know that they are raised”.
In Portonovo, yesterday, the Pieri car park began operating, the rescue service of the Società Nazionale di Salvamento headed by Edoardo Rubini has already been active for days, the Zac is functioning and, ahead of schedule, the emergency medical service has been launched . Stunning water, clear skies, few but good mussels, what more could you ask for.
