Unpredictable weather, intense schedule, waking up at the crack of dawn, hard work at the mercy of the sea – it is all about the life of Eric Rinaldi, the last of the Fishermen of Monaco. His father fished, as did his father, going back five generations. Indeed, Eric was destined to become a fisherman. right from the high school he went to the deck of a fishing boat. At the age of 7 he managed to catch all sorts of small rock fish. At the age of 16 Eric officially entered the family business and became a crew member. His father André, also known as Dédé, passed on to him the love and specific techniques of fishing in the Mediterranean. He taught him to observe the sea, predict the reactions of the fish and its typical behavior and prepared him for the inevitable challenges. Thus, Eric has become an expert in deep-sea fishing specializing in seasonal tuna, swordfish, and other deep-sea fish fishing. The Rinaldi family name is legendary along the shores of the Côte d'Azur, synonymous with tradition, impeccable fishing quality and respect for the environment.

Faithful to the shores of the principality, Eric maintains his heritage with passion and pride, perpetuating the traditions of Monegasque fishing for more than 30 years.
Today he is the last fisherman in Monaco; His son Diego is 10 years old; he likes to go fishing with his dad. However, he is not sure about his future profession, and Eric does not want to insist on his choice.
Eric claims that it is important to be passionate about such job as it requires constant learning, dedication, patience and perseverance.

Aboard "Dédé", his boat named after his beloved father who has passed away, Eric explains: “When we go fishing, we always know the time of departure, but we never know when we come back. Sometimes you have to spend time offshore to find or fish and then a lot of things can happen. I have been doing it for 30 years, I got used and I am still in love with my job. However, there are some things that have changed. I believe that at our time we have to think more about our environment. One particular challenge is plastic pollution. Every time I go to the sea, I collect plastic from it. I am sure we have to apply sustainable fishing practices in order to restore fish stocks and ecosystems. I want not only to fish but to fish so it can exist tomorrow.”
Promoting sustainable artisanal fishing is reasonable as it ensures the sustainability of stocks for future generations. The resource has a value that goes far beyond their own needs. It is a way of life that is worth preserving, as surely as the sea must be revered and the environment must be protected.

Since 2009, the Principality of Monaco and the Prince Albert II Foundation have been gathering stakeholders at the national and international levels to protect a symbol of the Mediterranean: bluefin tuna. In January 2015 Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation signed an agreement to introduce a project to save the bluefin tuna and promote sustainable fishing.
Keeping a healthy life cycle in a healthy sea is the number-one goal. This principle perfectly fits with the policy of La Pêcherie ULUVASSU (sea bass in translation from Monegasque dialect), a fish shop founded by Eric Rinaldi several years ago. Situated in the Port Hercules, ULUVASSU is always full of customers. There are no secrets to success since there is a strong team. Eric, Sami, Kevin and Steven have been collaborating together since last year. Passionate about their work and about the sea they also share a particular attention to customers and ready to do their utmost to meet their needs respecting the environment. Here they offer organic, locavore cuisine and fresh seasonal products accompanied by a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice which provides the best tasting experience on the spot. Their offers change as everything depends on the catch of the day. That is a real concept of local fish consumption and a great example of sustainable fishing to follow.