Newsletter 1 October 2009

Page 4 Changing Coastal Communities FISHERNET Opportunities from Fishing Cultural Heritage European Network of Fishing Cultural Heritage The Norwegian partner in the FISHERNET is a 3 year project FISHERNET project is The Museums for involving collaborators from 6 Full Steam Ahead Coastal Heritage and Reconstruction of European countries. It aims to A year has passed since the FISHERNET the cultural value of fishermen’s lives, been Finnmark IKS. One of the goals of the investigate best practices for Project was approved by the EU Culture involved in fishing activity through games Fishernet project in Finnmark is to in- collection and dissemination of Programme, and the network is well and helped to identify and record heritage crease knowledge and understanding fishing cultural heritage and to underway. elements such as songs, stories and factual of the changes taking place in coastal accounts. Cyprus, Galicia and Norway have establish a network for ongoing communities and highlight the impor- The initial meeting was held in October been particularly active in this regard to development of fishing heritage tance of their fishing cultural heritage. 2008 in Muros (Galicia, Spain), in January date. opportunities and maintenance of 2009 a second meeting took place in fishing communities. This newsletter Stromness, Orkney (Scotland, UK) and the In the UK, a public seminar was organised in Norway has an extensive and diverse provides up-to-date information third, this July, in Cyprus. Each meeting Orkney about the topic, focussing particu- coastline, which ranges from the Oslo about the programme and was used to share experiences, explore ap- larly on how to communicate information Fjord in the south to the Varanger fishing heritage issues. A website proaches to working with fishing cultural about fishing heritage. It was attended by peninsula near the Russian border www.fishingheritage.net will heritage and to discuss initiatives which around 50 diverse stakeholders alongside in the north. Norwegians therefore soon be launched. Meantime please will help to fulfil the network objectives. the European network members, resulting have a strong relationship with the register your interest in the project in productive discussions and exchange of sea and a long history of coastal set- View of Honningsvåg, host town of the second Fishernet seminar Having agreed on a definition for the ideas. at [email protected] in tlement. Coastal communities have concept of fishing cultural heritage an early order to receive future newsletters. long used local resources at sea and itants of these communities being more the traditional fishing industry disap- task was to identify examples of existing A new website has been created in Iceland, We also welcome opinions, feed- heritage assets in each participating on land, through fishing and hunting. easily influenced by society at large. pear, because of increased efficiency introducing the network and compiling back and new suggestions. community. Some countries have carried Increasingly, trade and seafaring have and over fishing, development of the information related to the fishing and out activities to record heritage items, coastal cultural heritage of the country. provided links to the wider world. For The changes we face today are consid- travel industry may bring forth new ered by many to be alarming because opportunities. CONTENTS others have worked to better disseminate example the cod fishery has been com- existing heritage information and to raise In Galicia, a travelling exhibition on fishing the conditions for life in these com- Fishernet activities 1 mercially viable since the 1200s and awareness of society in general about cultural heritage has been produced and munities have changed so radically International Conference provided an economic foundation for Bulgarian networks 2 fishing cultural heritage. A wider survey of rolled out. At each location stakeholders, and rapidly. Many coastal communities, Coastal Communities in Change coastal communities in the north. Galician poetry 2 fishing heritage assets throughout including cultural and local organisations, especially in the north, are in danger of Cypriot pest fish 2 are invited to contribute to raising aware- The Museums for Coastal Heritage is also being completed. Coastal Communities in Change disappearing entirely. ness and to providing new input that can and Reconstruction of Finnmark IKS UK communications 3 Primary and secondary school pupils from Icelandic website 3 enhance the exhibition. Over the years fishing has changed, Coastal Culture and the want to actively enter and participate fishing communities have been participat- Norwegian conference 4 and fishing communities have changed Potential for Commercial in the debate. They therefore recently ing in the project. They have learned about In , activities to disseminate fishing with it. Modern communications and Development hosted an international conference in cultural heritage have been planned and the global economy have led to inhab- Honningsvåg on the theme of chang- designed, and will initially be presented Fishernet members studying Dealing with this fragile situation has ing coastal communities. The confer- at the Apolonia Art and Music Festival in traditional fishing methods . a strong relationship with conserva- ence was aimed at both industry and in Cyprus tion of the knowledge and heritage of academics and created shared ground During the last meeting in Cyprus, coastal fisheries, and its communication for discussion about the opportunities representatives of relevant government to future generations. Over the past two that could be realised by better use of bodies with a remit for fishing heritage years the government has prioritised fishing cultural heritage. were engaged in discussions to improve this issue, setting a goal for coastal capture and presentation of the rich fishing culture to be better used as a resource heritage of the island. for commercial development along the coast. In parallel with these specific activities, contacts with other organisations and com- munities not yet represented in the network Coastal culture and experiences are have been intensified in order to grow the therefore steadily becoming an impor- network and encourage the widest possible tant basis for developing exciting and involvement in future activities. Cod fisheries - a tradition, and still attractive commercial opportunities a source of income in Finnmark in Finnmark. For example, as jobs in

«This bulletin does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors» Fishernet Newsletter 1

Page 2 Page 3 Bulgaria Mobilise Community Interest Galician Fishing Exploring Communication Strategies In Bulgaria, the Europartners 2000 foun- with the principals of the local schools, Heritage Poetry UK FISHERNET project partners issues to explore ways by which fish- communication materials focussed dation is presenting its initial project museums, fisheries associations and Aquatera are using their experience ing cultural heritage information can on Scotland and Orkney that can also activities as part of the 25th Apolonia local authorities. “I just want to be the conch or shell of communicating information about be shared and promoted. This work be adapted for use elsewhere. Ways in Art and Music festival in Sozopol, an old environmental and sustainability includes the preparation of sample which pan-European information can which can produce a sound that imitates port and fishing centre. A website portal www.fishernet.bg be shared and presented are also being Examples of materials for promoting fishing heritage will host project events, information, you by sounding, my sea, from this shore explored. The community of Nessebar will also and discussion forums to encourage and to dream you talk to me in essence” work with the foundation to organize balanced management of the Black The tools being used include main- activities connected with fishing Sea coast and eco-sustainable These lines are from the book stream materials such as maps, posters, cultural heritage in 2009 and 2010. measures in relation to fishing heritage. Prophecy of the Sea by Bernardino leaflets and postcards. The potential for This ancient coastal city, originating A newsletter about fisheries cultural Graña. This work is an intense and more innovative items such as calen- over 3200 years ago, is one of Europe’s heritage projects from Bulgaria, as well deep poetic reflection about human dars, playing cards and cut-out models oldest towns and a UNESCO World as leading examples from Europe will beings and their link to the sea, which is also being investigated. The aim of Heritage Site. also be published. takes fishermen and their way of life as this approach is to gather and develop its reference. Types of boat, harbours, best practice ways of presenting infor- In a further initiative the foundation has geography and fishing grounds, mation about fishing cultural heritage invited institutions and stakeholders types of fish and catching methods, that are both attractive and informative. from , Tzarevo, Aheloj, , rites, taboos, hopes and dreams – all This should improve the quality and , Kiten and Kavarna to establish aspects of fishing heritage, tangible availability of information, whilst also a local sub-network of Bulgarian Black and intangible, are present throughout providing the opportunity for fishing Sea municipalities and organizations this book. It shows very well how communities to generate income and working in the field of fishing heritage. creative literature, taking work at sea keep their fishing heritage alive. The first joint events will be announced The official poster announcing as its reference, is also part of our rich after 15 September 2009 in agreement the Apolonia festival heritage of fishing culture. Fishernet.is in Iceland Lagocephalus - Curse of the Pharaohs The Icelandic FISHERNET project has Community - includes weather-related information on lighthouses in Iceland. focused on gathering and dissemina- knowledge of Icelandic seafarers, folk- Invasion of a fish species from the family (Tetraodontidae) with powerful to humans. The skin, liver and genital tion of resources related to coastal lore of the sea, sailors in literature and Material is continuously added, and Red Sea is causing extreme problems teeth, has reportedly been causing organs of the fish contain tetrodotoxin, cultures and fishing heritage. An inter- a special feature on women in fisheries; new collaborations are being formed to eastern Mediterranean fishermen. extensive damage to fishing nets in a neurotoxic substance for which there net archive http://www.fishernet.is is and the Coast - includes articles and to promote and advertise the project. Lagocephalus, a genus in the pufferfish the Dodecanese, the North Aegean is no antidote. Ingestion in small quan- the core location of resources, as well and Cyprus. Fishermen consider it a tities can have an immediate impact as serving as a portal to other sources pest, referring to it as the curse of the on the central nervous system, lead- dealing with Iceland’s coastal cultural pharaohs. ing to breathing failure and paralysis, heritage. which can be fatal. The Department of As well as having economic conse- Fisheries and Marine Research in Cyprus In addition to standard website content quences for fishermen, Lagocephalus is warning fishermen not to market (basic information, news and meetings, also represents a serious health threat Lagocephalus whilst also looking for ongoing projects, links etc), various solutions for coping with this new pest. resources such as articles, essays, and Eradication is not necessarily the only even full text books are already avail- option. In Japan and Korea the meat able. Content was allowed to partially of some similar species is considered a dictate form but some main themes delicacy, but requires specialist prepara- have been established such as: Coastal tion. A further market may arise from culture - includes articles on tourism medical research which has shown that and on coastal archaeological sites in Lagocephalus and a Lagocephalus toxin can have therapeu- Iceland; Fishing - includes informa- close-up of its destructive teeth tic potential, effective for pain treat- tion on fishing locations in northern ment in terminal cancer patients. Iceland and various aspects of whaling; Maintenance of a wooden whale-watching boat in Húsavík