The quest for cod: Some causes of fishing conflicts in the north Atlantic |
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Authors: | Jon Th Thór |
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Institution: | Icelandic Centre for Fisheries History Research , Hafrannsoknastofnunin, Skulagata 4, 121 Reykjavik, Iceland E-mail: jonthor@hafro.is |
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Abstract: | This article presents an historical overview of the role played by the North Atlantic cod fisheries in shaping the relations between two ecological zones: a fish‐surplus zone in the north and a fish‐deficient zone in the south. As production changed from a predominantly subsistence‐based economy to one of market orientation, fierce competition developed between national fleets and trading companies when the quest for cod increased due to demographic and climatic changes. The introduction of highly efficient technologies since the latter half of the 19th century has caused severe over‐exploitation in certain parts of the North Atlantic region and encouraged the fish‐producing states to nationalise cod resources by extending their borders extensively, thus generating inter‐state conflicts known as ?cod wars?. |
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