The Norwegian-Arctic cod (automatic translation test)

Cod represent the long lines in the Norwegian fishing history and in Norway's history. Cod fishery and the production of cod products stands for stability and tradition, but also for cooperation between Norway and many other countries. There are several kinds of cod, coastal cod and North Sea cod, for example, but here we are talking about by far the largest and most important stock, now and at all times, the Norwegian-Arctic cod.

The resource we share today with Russia. This is based on the cod tribe's way of life and range. The Norwegian-Arctic cod place each winter on a journey of thousands of miles from the Barents Sea north of Norway and Russia to the Norwegian coast. Cod, which also called out from the old Norwegian word stride - to walk - starts at this annual and perilous trip in six age of seven. Then it is adult and mature, ready to spawn for the first time and lead cod on.

Not all swim the same distance. A portion of the population spawns outside the West Finnmark, another part as far south as the coast of Trøndelag, off the northwest and down by the City.
But the majority have always head to the Lofoten Islands, a series of large and small islands that juts into the ocean in the far north in Nordland county, first Hinnøya so Austvågøya, Gimsøya, Vestvågøya, Flakstadøya, Moskenesøya, and furthest out, Værøy and Røst. On the south side of the islands, on the inner side, the most spawning occurred since time immemorial. Here, towards the ends of the west area, we expect that the people have taken advantage of this great adventure of nature far, far back in time, and fishing for cod with simple and primitive tools and small and fragile vessels.

Lofoten islands and mountains have provided some protection against the weather and natural forces in the Norwegian Sea on the seaward side, and the rich, and concentrated retention of large mature fish has given good opportunities to gain useful catch. Each female fish spawns a huge number of eggs, all the way up to four million, but the dropout rate is dramatic. Only a very small number of individuals manage their way through the first critical phase. And more dangers await, after hatching, and that it brought a picnic in the yolk sac is used up, it must be very young cod larvae begin to absorb nourishment for your own machine where it runs off the north and east by the Gulf Stream.
You will need a correlation in time with another natural phenomenon - to ensure an adequate cohort of cod spawning must be well timed in relation to the spring bloom of zooplankton copepod as it should nurture the newly hatched cod larvae.

The absolute most important nursery area for the Norwegian Arctic cod in the Barents Sea, for a large part in the Russian economic zone. Cod is a migratory population. As a juvenile the search towards the Norwegian coast in search of capelin. This in turn gave rise to our cod fishing in Finnmark. When the Norwegian-Arctic cod are sexually mature ie the start of the long spawning migration from the Barents Sea to the Norwegian coast. Circle. A new cohort is created.

We expect that this fascinating natural drama has been more or less continuously since the ice disappeared after the last ice age. The population has naturally varied in size over time based on fluctuations in the spawning performance and nutritional conditions in the ocean, but the basic pattern has been stable. The technique of preserving fish by drying it is probably also very old. Word of cod has also associated with this ancient method of preservation. It comes from the Old Norwegian turskr meaning turrfiskr, ie dried.


Lofoten has always been a special position in the cod fishery. It spawned the largest share of the fish stock in a fairly limited geographical area and in waters where large islands gave adequate protection against major ocean violent forces so that relatively small and fragile vessels could participate in the fishery. In Lofoten also fall time of spawning and cod fishing in February, March and early April along with the period of year when conditions for making dried fish of the highest quality is about perfect.

The area is normally windy for good drying. It is usually not too cold, and avoids making the frost destroys the quality of fish meat. It is usually not too hot weather, which can easily give sour fish and also consume the birds come and lay eggs in the fish. Today we may be facing dramatic changes in the unique position in the Lofoten cod fishery and the production of dried fish of the highest quality. If the scientific warnings about the fundamental changes of climate on the planet are correct, this may manifest itself in several ways.

Changes in sea temperature can cause shifts in the cod spawning area and weaken the Lofoten fishery.
Temperature changes can also undermine Lofoten's status as one of the best places for the production of quality dried fish. There are indications of such changes today, but it is uncertain whether they just represent natural variation within the long-term stable pattern or heralds a more lasting change.