Find in addition to this article:
- The Ponte Novu hunting and fishing fair: a showcase for the Corsican economy
The return of the hunting and fishing fair had been a relief in 2023 after four years of a rest imposed by the health crisis. Hunting and fishing enthusiasts from all over the island had played the game last year, showing that the fair of New Bridge remains a must-see, even after 17 editions. At 6 p.m is taking place until this evening on the fairground of the station, as usual.
Under the nets stretched between the treetops, the fifty exhibitors enjoys the shade and a refreshing breeze in the middle of a stifling particle pollution episode. No matter, like every year, they are there. And if the vast majority are Corsican, some come from far away to share their passion for hunting and fishing with the island enthusiasts.
Practices from elsewhere
Natalie Pieta and her partner Hervé Journal left Haute-Savoie and their small village of Challonges to join Ponte Novu and present their Swiss hounds for the first time. “The Schwyzois are one of the four varieties. The rarest. There are only 25 births per year in France. Just as many in Switzerland.” A florist by trade, Natalie has set herself the almost sacred mission of making this very special variety known and seeing it once again on the hunting grounds.. “They are rather designed to hunt deer and hare. But we’re trying to create a pack for the wild boar.”, says Hervé. At first glance, nothing to appeal to Corsican hunters who prefer smaller and livelier dogs, more adapted to the vegetation and terrain. “However, the Corsicans seem to appreciate the breed. There is a lot of demand and it is always interesting to talk with other enthusiasts. It helps us with the education of our pack.”Natalie smiled.
Enriching Corsican hunting and fishing
Nicolas Hirissou is a regular at the Ponte Novu fair. Present since the first editions, the winemaker from Gaillac, in Tarn, has strong ties to Corsica: “I find there the values of yesteryear shared around the love of animals, hunting and fishing.” The falconer has nothing to sell. He distills his love of hunting to flight voluntarily and does not “where in Ponte Novu”, where some Corsican falconry enthusiasts learned from him. His son, Matteo, jumped on the bandwagon at a very young age. At 13, he was selling colorful fishing lures that he had made himself. “My brand is called Mattfishing and I already made a sale this morning”breath, happy, he who has “large” with the Ponte Novu fair.
Over the years, continental exhibitors have forged links with Corsican hunters and fishermen and are part of the fair’s DNA. “The interest in opening the stands to people from elsewhere is to be able to offer things that are not done here, to create exchanges and to enrich our practices”breathes the vice-president of the association that organizes the fair, Tumasgiu Marchetti.
The mentality attracts exhibitors from France and elsewhere who help to make Ponte Novu a capital of hunting and fishing for a weekend.
