‘We look to the past to move forward’: the ancient method boosting cuttlefish numbers in the Mediterranean

Tree branches have been used for thousands of years to give cuttlefish somewhere solid to attach their eggs to prevent them drifting away. In Morocco, palms were traditionally used; in Galicia, pines. Photograph: Courtesy of Projecte Sèpia

Clinging to almost vertical cliffs on the Costa Brava in north-east Spain, the resort of l’Estartit has a dramatic location but the real drama is unfolding under the waves, where an innovative approach to ancient techniques is helping to revive declining populations of prized cuttlefish

Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) are a valuable catch for Spanish fishers and a popular dish, either on their own or as a key ingredient in seafood paella. However, their numbers have declined on the Catalan coast through a combination of pollution and unregulated recreational fishing.