History of Belgian sea fisheries
Introduction
As from the early Middle-Ages, the ports of Oostende and Nieuwpoort enjoyed a certain prosperity and status in the field of fisheries and trade. This period (15th – 17th century) is also known as the 'Golden age'[1] of the Flemish sea fisheries. Especially the salted herring[2]-, and later the salted cod fishing[3], was important. Yet, sea fisheries also knew hardship. Political turmoil, during which Oostende and Nieuwpoort were alternately under siege, would (during the 2nd half of the 16th century) ultimately lead the fisheries into decay[4] for a long period of time.
The Austrian reign (1713-1794) brought a revival in the Flemish sea fisheries, but this was only temporary: during the French Republic (1795-1804) and the French Empire (1804-1814), there was another decline. When William I of the Netherlands took control in 1815, he wanted to boost the fishing-industry with a new fisheries policy and grants. This caused great displeasure: the Flemish fishermen did not agree[5] with the meddling of the Dutch government. Moreover, according to the Flemish ship-owners, this system of state subsidies was not adapted to the specific nature of the Flemish sea fisheries.
The independence of Belgium in 1830 entailed an adapted system of state subsidies, which soon doubled the number of ships and gave a boost to employment in the sector. Between 1832 and 1864, the total number of vessels increased from 145 to 274 as a direct effect[6] of the system of subsidies. Ten years after the independence, cod landings in Oostende had already tripled. The herring catches also did well. The system of subsidies was soon to be questioned internationally, because of its great impact on government budgets. A National Commission of inquiry on sea fisheries[7] was established, and the first fisheries statistics were collected. After the United Kingdom, and later the Netherlands, let go of the system of subsidies, it was also abolished[8] in Belgium in 1867.
References
- ↑ Degryse, R. (1944), Vlaanderens haringbedrijf in de Middeleeuwen. De Seizoenen, 49. De Nederlandsche Boekhandel: Antwerpen. 116 pp
- ↑ Debergh, H.; Lescrauwaet, A.K.; Scholaert, A.; Mees, J. (2011),Haring - Clupea harengus. Een eeuw zeevisserij in België. VLIZ Information Sheets, 295. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. 14 pp.
- ↑ Lescrauwaet, A.-K.; Debergh, H.; Scholaert, A.; Mees, J. (2011), Atlantische kabeljauw - Gadus morhua. Een eeuw zeevisserij in België. VLIZ Information Sheets, 215. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. 12 pp.
- ↑ Hovart, P. (1985), Zeevisserijbeheer in vroegere eeuwen: een analyse van normatieve bronnen. Mededelingen van het Rijksstation voor Zeevisserij (CLO Gent), 206. Rijksstation voor Zeevisserij: Oostende. III, 192, VII pp.
- ↑ (1817), Mémoire présenté au roi sur la pêche nationale. West-Flandre 1817. Imprimerie de P. Scheldewaert: Ostende. 57 pp.
- ↑ De Zuttere, C. (1909), Enquête sur la pêche maritime en Belgique: introduction, recencement de la pêche maritime. Lebègue & cie: Bruxelles. 634 pp.
- ↑ (1866), Rapport de la Commission chargée de faire une enquête sur la situation de la pêche maritime en Belgique. Séance du 17 mai 1866. Chambre des Représentants: Bruxelles. XLII, 75 pp.
- ↑ Hovart, P. (1994), 150 jaar zeevisserijbeheer 1830-1980: een analyse van normatieve bronnen. Mededelingen van het Rijksstation voor Zeevisserij (CLO Gent), 235. Rijksstation voor Zeevisserij: Oostende. 317 pp.
