Thresholds Database > Fisheries: Anglo-Icelandic Cod Wars (1950s - 1970s)

Background

The water of Iceland's continental shelf are among the richest fishing grounds in the world and generates more than 70% if Iceland's foreign exchange. Between 1951 and 1977, Britain and Iceland were engaged in conflict. Through a series of unilateral declarations, Iceland increasingly expanded its fishing jurisdictions from 3 to 4 (1952), to 12 (1958), to 50 (1972) and to 200 (1975) nautical miles off the coast of Iceland. These extensions locked British trawlers out of traditional fishing grounds, thereby affecting the British fishing industry and the economy of British port towns.

Alternate Regimes

Icelandic fishing zones

1. 3 nautical miles (pre 1952)

2. 4 nautical miles (1952)

3. 12 nautical miles (1958

4. 50 nautical miles (1972)

5. 200 nautical miles (1975)

In each regime, Britains access to fish stocks was reduced, causing a shift in fishing practices by British trawlers.

Mechanism

This is an example of a shift in the social system (e.g. fishing practices by the British fishing industry). Whilst there is no change in the ecological system, access to the environmental resource has changed.

Management Decisions in Each Regime

Pre 1952 - Iceland had a 3-mile territorial limit.


1952 - Iceland announced a 4-mile territorial limit. Britain protested and British trawler owners boycotted Icelandic trawlers and fish landings in British ports. Iceland found other markets, particularly the USSR.


1956 - Britain accepted Iceland's demands.


1958 - Iceland banned all trawlers (including Icelandic) within 12 miles from its coast to protect increasingly endangered fish stocks. Britain, and other European countries, argued for its traditional fishing rights. British Royal Navy ships escorted British trawlers to areas considered to be traditional British fishing grounds off Iceland, beginning the "First Anglo-Icelandic Cod War". The issue was resolved in Iceland's favour in 1961.


1971 - Iceland announced its intention to extend the fishing jurisdiction to 50 miles. The British and West Germans protested and again the British Royal Navy ships were sent to escort British trawlers onto these fishing grounds, beginning the "Second Anglo-Icelandic Cod War". Iceland used it's NATO affiliation and NATO airbase to bargain for outside pressure to be placed on Britain. Britain gave into Iceland's demands.


ca. 1976 - Iceland extended it's fishery jurisdiction to 200 miles which sparked the "Third Anglo-Icelandic Cod War". Iceland threatened to withdraw from the NATO Alliance and the conflict was again resolved in Iceland's favour in 1976.