RISVÆR BRYGGER LOFOTEN
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EKTE LOFOTFISKE
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WINTER EVENT
The year 2020 went down in the history books as "Annus Horribilis" - and the World Cup in cod fishing was unfortunately canceled, as so many other events this year. This does not mean that the cod has stopped biting. This does not mean that we have stopped fishing. We are starting with new courage, new fishing luck and a new World Cup in cod fishing 2021! This is the most beautiful adventure of the winter and the ultimate boy's trip for companies or in private. We have the program packed with great programs from the early morning hours to late night hours. There is limited capacity - so contact us soon if you want to know more about the popular winter days in March 2021. Risvær Brygger is the official partner with the WC in Skreifiske.
PHOTOS FROM EARLIER EVENTS
THE HISTORY ABOUT THE LOFOTEN FISHERY
"Their most important weapon was not sword, spear and bow, but cod ..."
Excerpts from the book «The cod - that built Norway»
by Frank A. Jenssen
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FOLLOWING the history of cod is a fascinating journey through the creation of the nation of Norway.
Via saga, legislation and court protocols, old account books and ordinances dating back to the 1000s, a clear picture emerges. It was the cod that gave us the strength and finances to establish a church, government, royal power, government and eventually a separate Storting.
The cod made it possible to build the nation stone upon stone. Without it, people would not have lived in northern Norway.
Bergen, Ålesund and Kristiansund had not been. And what about Oslo and the rest of southern Norway?
Tithing from cheese, butter, and grain might have kept a village king and a church or two. But not to build an entire kingdom. Without the cod, there would have been no Vikings either.
Their main weapons were not swords, spears and bows, but the cod that the people along the coast had learned to dry in the absence of salt. Absolutely crucial as a commodity, but also as a ship supplier. Because in the stockfish they had nutritious food with almost unlimited date stamping that made it possible to survive long journeys to Greenland, Russia and far south in Europe. Even to America, 500 years before Columbus.
THE FIRST stockfish exporter we know was named Torolf Kveldulfson. In 870, according to Egil's saga, he traveled to Lofoten with his large ship, filled it with stockfish and sailed to England where he exchanged cargo with necessary goods. The Hanseatic League, which had its own fleet of warships (Hansa used to mean "armed merchant caravans"), dominated trade in large parts of northern Europe.
The stockfish became one of the most important products after they had established themselves in Bergen towards the end of the 13th century, which is illustrated in the coat of arms. There the stockfish takes up half the space, it even has a crown.
To this day, the same coat of arms adorns the Hansa Pilsen.
In the 1560s, around 200 yachts sailed annually from northern Norway to Bergen with stockfish, cod liver oil and roe that were sold to land in Europe. This trade represented an average annual value of 105,000 specials.
A sum three times greater than Norway's total government finances during this period.
For AT LEAST A THOUSAND years, right up until the beginning of the 20th century, fishing took place from open boats, preferably the largest Nordland boats, five-seater boats and eight-seater boats.
It came out with sails or oars. In the 1920s, a large part of the fishing fleet was motorized, which made it possible to manage with smaller crews on board the boats.
But the participation during the Lofoten fishing was still great until many years after World War II. In 1860 24,000 men participated, the peak year was 1895 with 32,000 athletes. From 1990, the participation has been between 2000 and 4000.
But the total catch quantity has not been reduced. T
oday, a shark fisherman is ten times more efficient than his professional brothers in earlier times.
Modern equipment and larger boats have made it possible for the coastal fleet to fish not only the entire coast, but also out in the open sea where large catches are made before the cod come to Lofoten.
LOFOTFISKET is still an important seasonal fishery that attracts fishermen from Finnmark in the north to Mandal in the south, and is still a fascinating sight.
Especially in March and early April. Then there is a bustling life on the fish farms along the entire Lofoten wall and huge amounts of fish are hung on rocks to dry.
During June, the fish is taken down from the reefs, sorted into eighteen different qualities and exported to several countries around the world.