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An Examination of the Economic Role of Table Fish in Ancient Rome
King, Allyson R.
King, Allyson R.
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Abstract
From many ancient sources, including Cicero and Pliny, it is clear that table fish were a luxury good in Rome. However, whether or not local coastal people could obtain fish from the same catches at a less extravagant price is a subject for debate. Fishing techniques mentioned in ancient literary sources, despite having seemingly low potential productivities, could be relatively efficient, and it is not impossible that less favorable fish could be sold to the general public while the choicest catch went to elite buyers. Such upperclass consumers took great pride in their ability to provide table fish to their guests. Small piscinae at villas ensured that the owner could always serve fresh fish at his table, and larger ones could be used to breed fish for economic gain. Fish also were imported over long distances to be raised in fishponds, but it is nearly impossible to determine how much this is because fish were scarce in certain areas and how much because discerning tongues were willing to pay a premium for fish caught in other waters. Generally, it has been assumed that the low potential productivity ancient fishing practices prevented issues of sustainability and overfishing. However, comparing modern data to these Roman practices suggests that fishing could bring in very large catches even without modern technologies. Oppian mentions fishing from breeding stocks, which could damage stocks, and Juvenal describes overfishing in Italian waters. By examining literary and archaeological evidence of fishing and fish consumption, I analyze the scale of the Roman fishing industry and provide a likely model for the distribution of fish.
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Date
2013-05-31
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University of Kansas
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Keywords
Classical studies, Natural resource management, Ancient history, Fish, Marine resource, Rome