Norfish Dutch North Sea Cod Fishery 1520–1810

Dutch sources distinguish between cod fishing in the North Sea and the fishing efforts off the coast of Iceland. The North Sea cod fishing effort for the Dutch was never at the scale of the Dutch herring fishery which at its peak at the beginning of the 17th century totalled nearly 80,000 metric tonnes per annum. In comparison, the Dutch North Sea cod fishery managed just over 21,000 metric tonnes at its peak in 1622.

The explanation for this disparity may lie in the negotiating power of the two fleets during the Dutch Golden Age (final decade of the 16th century until the middle of the 17th century) and beyond. Herring fishers, who provided what was arguably one of the largest contributions to the Dutch coffers during the Golden Age made various pleas for financial assistance from the state which eventually culminated in a “premie” (premium) of 600 guilders per vessel per season for deep sea fishing, coupled with a one guilder bonus for each ton (close to one metric tonne) of herring caught. Shoreline herring fishers received a 200 guilders “premie”, while cod fishers operating off the coast of Iceland received 500 guilders “premie”. In stark contrast, the North Sea cod fishers do not appear to have received any form of bounty or bonus.