As Iceland lives to a large extent on the fisheries industries, it comes only naturally to take some snaps down at Reykjavik harbour, one of the largest fishing harbours in the country.
A new trawler, probably with full range freezing equipment on board. These vessels are actually ultra high-tech, often with the most sophisticated computer-steered automation available. So the days of the fisherman on his simple boat and his net are long gone. The newest ships often include a sauna, a workout gym and a video longue for the crew. This sounds like a luxury cruise liner, but actually life aboard is very, very hard work. But well paid.
Icelanders have participated fully in the increasing sophistication of this industry . In other countries, the fisheries industry is often seen as a underdeveloped one, needing subsidizing and government support. Here, it is different.
The fisheries industry, globally, has had some questionable image because of disrespect to natural resources by overfishing which leads to diminishing fish stocks to such an extent, that the seas of the world are considered to be in danger. Iceland has luckily been able to put some scientific steering on the utilization of it's fishing stocks, and the fishing quotas are now quite strict, based on scientific evidence from comprehensive research, leading to an emphasis on cost cutting and efficiency instead of the "fish as much as you possibly can" mindset that formerly was the norm.
This has led to the nice fact, that some fish stocks which used to be on their way down, are now building up. That is of course because the Marine Research Institute and the Ministry of Fisheries have been quite tough on cutting down over-fishing. A painful policy to fishermen that is now paying off nicely. The fishing quotas are freely sellable and leasable, which, according to economists, will lead to that those who are able to fish and process most efficiently and get the highest prices, will in the end handle most of the fishing. This has led to the development of an active quota market, where permission to fish certain types of fish are traded, with daily price quotes.
This has made some people remarkably wealthy, as one ton of cod costs 9000 ECU. (consider a true story of a common sailor/ship owning family that owned 500 tons. And that isn't even unique) Others are less happy about the situation, because rights to fish are leaving their towns and going to financially stronger and more efficient fishers. There are, however, some that say the Icelandic model should be taken up in other places, as it may be the only way to save seas and fishing industries in trouble, both literally and image wise.
Images from reykjanes and grindavík here
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