Sea Changes Ashore: The Ocean and Iceland's Herring Capital

• Published in: Arctic 2004-12, Vol.57 (4), p.325-335
• Main Authors: Hamilton, Lawrence C., Jónsson, Steingrímur, Ögmundardóttir, Helga, Belkin, Igor M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climate change; Ecological effects; Environmental stress; Exports; Fisheries; Fishery economics; Food supply; Harbors; Herring; Ice; Marine; Natural resources; Ocean fisheries; Oceans; Overfishing; Pisces; Salinity; Sea water; Seas; Sustainable development
• ISSN: 0004-0843; 1923-1245

The story of Siglufjörður (Siglufjordur), a north Iceland village that became the "Herring Capital of the World," provides a case study of complex interactions between physical, biological, and social systems. Siglufjörður's natural capital—a good harbor and proximity to prime herring grounds—contributed to its development as a major fishing center during the first half of the 20th century. This herring fishery was initiated by Norwegians, but subsequently expanded by Icelanders to such an extent that the fishery, and Siglufjörður in particular, became engines helping to pull the whole Icelandic economy. During the golden years of this "herring adventure," Siglufjörður opened unprecedented economic and social opportunities. Unfortunately, the fishing boom reflected unsustainably high catch rates. In the years following World War II, overfishing by an international fleet eroded the once-huge herring stock. Then, in the mid-1960s, large-scale physical changes took place in the seas north of Iceland. These physical changes had ecological consequences that led to the loss of the herring's main food supply. Severe environmental stress, combined with heavy fishing pressure, drove the herring stocks toward collapse. Siglufjörður found itself first marginalized, then shut out as the herring progressively vanished. During the decades following the 1968 collapse, this former boomtown has sought alternatives for sustainable development. /// L'histoire de Siglufjöröður (Siglufjordur), un village du nord de l'Islande qui acquit le statut de « Capitale mondiale du hareng » , offre une étude de cas des interactions complexes qui ont lieu entre des systèmes physiques, biologiques et sociaux. Le capital naturel de Siglufjörður - un bon port et la proximité de bancs de harengs exceptionnels -a contribué à sa mise en valeur comme grand centre de pêche durant la première moitié du XXe siècle. La pêche au hareng, pratiquée tout d'abord par les Norvégiens, prit un tel essor avec les Islandais qu'elle devint, avec Siglufjörður en particulier, le moteur qui contribua à faire marcher toute l'économie de l'Islande. Durant les années fastes de cette « ère du hareng » , il y eut à Siglufjörður des ouvertures économiques et sociales sans précédent. Malheureusement, le boom de la pêche représentait des taux de prises trop élevés pour être durables. Au cours des années qui suivirent la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, la surpêche pratiquée par une flottille internationale fit baisser le stock