The new Moll de Pescadors is starting to take shape, with its main element already finished and ready to be inaugurated: the new fish market already welcomes the members of the Confraria de Pescadors de Barcelona, with the expectation of opening to the public once the redevelopment of the surroundings and the demolition of the old fish market are completed. With an estimated duration of about four months, the opening of the pier will come after the America's Cup ends in October, when the space will begin to receive its first visitors.
After these final works on the surroundings, citizens will be able to enter the fish market to delve into the work of Barcelona's fishermen. The facilities, which represent a substantial improvement over the fishermen's previous equipment, will allow bringing the work of these professionals closer to the public.
With this objective, the new building erected to replace the old fish market incorporates spaces for the public to follow live the auction of blue fish caught in Barcelona waters. And not only that: it will feature a quality Mediterranean cuisine restaurant linked to the sea.
The new building, constructed over a year and a half by FCC at a cost of nearly nine million euros, has 3,233 square meters. To access the facilities, a 140-meter ramp has been adapted near the iconic Torre del Rellotge of the pier, which will allow differentiated access to the public spaces. These will be located on the first floor, which will also have a perimeter terrace that will serve as a privileged viewpoint of the activity of the pier and the Port Vell.
Once the building is finished, the pier awaits the redevelopment of its accesses and the demolition of the old fish market to open to the public. Demolition works have already begun, bringing closer the completion of the works that will allow opening to the public a space that will contribute to Barcelona residents better knowing and differentiating the local product that is fished and consumed daily, as highlighted by the head of the fishermen's guild, José Manuel Juárez.
The new fish market and the upcoming opening of the Moll de Pescadors to the public are part of the set of projects promoted by the Port of Barcelona to open up to the city. In addition, they are part of the transformation of the Port Vell, where about twenty public and private initiatives totaling 120 million euros are underway, in a transformation accelerated by the America's Cup.
The renovation of the dock represents a paradigmatic action of the spirit of this transformation, "as it combines the opening of new spaces and the improvement of facilities, while enhancing the port heritage and contributing to the dissemination of the work of fishermen," according to the president of the Port, Lluís Salvadó. In addition, the project has also been promoted from a sustainable vision, taking advantage of the existing roof surfaces to install solar panels. The energy obtained will power the facilities in the area, which include not only the new fish market, but also a state-of-the-art ice factory that will now draw on the energy generated at the renovated dock.