Icelandic fishing industry: A sociological perspective

Abstract

This review article points out that despite the fact that fisheries is strongly connected to the Icelandic national identity, we find contradictions connected to its image. Still, the skippers are the most respected ones in the fishing villages, even if scholars debated how scientific their fishing methods are. As a part of a fishing policy a controversial quota system was established in 1984, revised in the year 1991. The profitability of the fishing companies was prioritised, with the consequences that large transfers have taken place in quotas and an increased concentration of the ownership to larger companies and fewer fishing villages. Sailors see the quota system as a major threat to their jobs. Gender stereotypes are strong in the fishing industry, where men's jobs generally are more respected than women's jobs. With increased emphasis on high technology and automation in the fisheries, the number of jobs have declined while the proportion of foreign staff has increased. Continued technical improvements has been made to improve various aspects of the working environment. Nevertheless, fish processing is getting more monotone and repetitive with higher mental and social strain among the employees as a consequence. Icelanders are less attracted to these jobs than before.