The fishing grounds of the River Minho are a precious treasure, due to their ingenuity, antiquity and the survival support they have represented for centuries. Between Monção and Melgaço, in a 37-kilometre stretch where the waters are wilder, there are around 900 fishing grounds. Of these, around 250 are still active.

The first written records of its existence date back to 1071. That's a long time ago. However, even without written records attesting to this, there are several theories that argue that it may have been the Romans who built the first ones, due to their advanced engineering skills.
And to back this up, there is evidence that lampreys, the river's most coveted fish resource, were sent to Rome alive, transported on carts in large clay pots.

Later, the monasteries were the main promoters of these buildings to ensure that they were fed, especially during the Lenten season.
Today they persist mainly because of the lamprey, which seem to be increasingly scarce. Ownership of fishing grounds is a relatively complex but functional system. Most have several owners. One of them is named "Patrão da Pesqueira". And fishing is organised through a rota that dictates the fishing days for each one.
This is a fascinating heritage that deserves to be preserved, valued and discovered