Cod trade
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Cod has been an important economic commodity in an international market since the Viking period (around 1000 AC). Norwegians used dried cod during their travels and soon it developed a dried cod market in the southern Europe. This market has lasted for more than 1000 years, passing through periods of Black Death, wars and other crisis and still is the most important Norwegian fish trade.
Apart from the long history this particular trade also differs from most other trade of fish by the location of the fishing grounds, far from large populations and without any domestic market. The large cod fisheries along the North-Norwegian coast (and in particular close to the Lofoten islands) have been developed almost uniquely for export, depending on sea transport of stockfish over large distances. After the introduction of salt also dried salted cod (klippfisk) has been exported. The trade operations and the sea transport were by the end of the 14th century taken over by the Hanseatic League, Bergen being the most important port of trade.
External links
- Codtrace (http://www.ucd.ie/codtrace/codfish.htm)
- Skrei - the miraculous cod (http://www.slowfood.com/img_sito/riviste/slow/EN/23/skrei.html)