Lofoten Islands
When one thinks of Norway, the usual images come to mind: Vikings with horned hats, blond-haired/blue eyed citizens, and the fishing industry. Being a coastal nation, a large part of the Norwegian economy is based on fishing, (as I write this let me add that the galley is just bringing today’s fresh fish onboard). Norway has of course always been known for its cod fisheries. This history of cod fishing extends far back in time, and is a time-honored tradition for some. As we visited the Lofoten Islands today, the guests on Endeavour had a chance to go ashore, and learn all about this history.
Early this afternoon Endeavour anchored outside a small historical fishing village on the Island of Å. It is here that there are two museums dedicated solely to the cod fishing industry. Starting even before the year 1000 AD, the Lofoten Islands were involved in the cod trading industry. The Islands are a perfect setting for the catching and drying of fish, as they hold three important characteristics: 1) they are not too warm or too cold, 2) the air is not overly dry, and 3) there is always a slight wind with salt in it for the drying process. This tradition has been kept up, in some families for over four generations.
In the museums one can stroll through and learn about the different types of fishing boats that were used, tragic sea stories from the North Atlantic, and of course all the stages it takes to dry cod.
Due to the over-fishing of cod throughout the world, the cod fishing business is not what it once was. However, Norway still remains one of the worlds leading fisheries, supplying everything from farmed Atlantic salmon to oysters.
It is quite amazing to be in a place with such rich waters. On Endeavour, learning about what is below the water does not stop with the museum tour. Our Undersea Specialist, Dennis Cornejo, takes every opportunity to explore the depths here in the Norwegian Fjords, and bring the images back to the guests, in the comfortable (and dry setting) of the ship’s lounge. Today Dennis and his team took out the ROV, our Remotely Operated Vehicle. Flying the machine from the surface, the ROV can go down well below diver depth, 150 meters, and bring back some astounding pictures. Today, in the waters off of Å, this redfish (Sebastes) was caught on camera. One of two fish in the redfish family, they are usually found in depths of 100-300 meters, along the continental shelf. They are mainly fished by trawlers in the North of Norway, but are also taken by nets. Full of lots of protein and goodness, redfish are a very tasty fish, especially when salted.
When one thinks of Norway, the usual images come to mind: Vikings with horned hats, blond-haired/blue eyed citizens, and the fishing industry. Being a coastal nation, a large part of the Norwegian economy is based on fishing, (as I write this let me add that the galley is just bringing today’s fresh fish onboard). Norway has of course always been known for its cod fisheries. This history of cod fishing extends far back in time, and is a time-honored tradition for some. As we visited the Lofoten Islands today, the guests on Endeavour had a chance to go ashore, and learn all about this history.
Early this afternoon Endeavour anchored outside a small historical fishing village on the Island of Å. It is here that there are two museums dedicated solely to the cod fishing industry. Starting even before the year 1000 AD, the Lofoten Islands were involved in the cod trading industry. The Islands are a perfect setting for the catching and drying of fish, as they hold three important characteristics: 1) they are not too warm or too cold, 2) the air is not overly dry, and 3) there is always a slight wind with salt in it for the drying process. This tradition has been kept up, in some families for over four generations.
In the museums one can stroll through and learn about the different types of fishing boats that were used, tragic sea stories from the North Atlantic, and of course all the stages it takes to dry cod.
Due to the over-fishing of cod throughout the world, the cod fishing business is not what it once was. However, Norway still remains one of the worlds leading fisheries, supplying everything from farmed Atlantic salmon to oysters.
It is quite amazing to be in a place with such rich waters. On Endeavour, learning about what is below the water does not stop with the museum tour. Our Undersea Specialist, Dennis Cornejo, takes every opportunity to explore the depths here in the Norwegian Fjords, and bring the images back to the guests, in the comfortable (and dry setting) of the ship’s lounge. Today Dennis and his team took out the ROV, our Remotely Operated Vehicle. Flying the machine from the surface, the ROV can go down well below diver depth, 150 meters, and bring back some astounding pictures. Today, in the waters off of Å, this redfish (Sebastes) was caught on camera. One of two fish in the redfish family, they are usually found in depths of 100-300 meters, along the continental shelf. They are mainly fished by trawlers in the North of Norway, but are also taken by nets. Full of lots of protein and goodness, redfish are a very tasty fish, especially when salted.
