Beyond Trawlertown: Memory, Life and Legacy in the Wake of the Cod Wars

Beyond Trawlertown explores the British distant-water fishery and its port-city connections in an era of disruption, focusing on the challenges, responses, and legacy of rapid change. It combines oral history and archival research to explore the impact of global events and marine policy on seafaring communities, revealing the intricacies of our human interaction with the marine environment and the aftermath of its threads being broken.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2022
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Beyond Trawlertown: A Journey Through the British Distant-Water Fishery and its Port-City Connections in an Era of Disruption

In 1976, a significant turning point occurred in the British distant-water fishery when the country faced defeat in the Anglo-Icelandic Cod Wars. This event, coupled with broader global factors, led to the demise of long-established trawling practices, resulting in profound social, economic, and cultural repercussions. To explore the challenges, responses, and legacy of this rapid change, the book delves into a case study of the port of Hull.

While the focus of the book is on Hull, it is important to note that this is far from a local history. Hull's position as a pioneer in distant-water fishing makes its story of international significance. The book employs a holistic narrative approach, focusing on memory, lived experience, and place. By examining personal acts of remembering, the book offers cultural perspectives on how global events and marine policy impact upon the seafaring communities that live with the consequences.

Amid the disruption caused by the Cod Wars, there were also glimpses of new beginnings. The rhythms of the past continued to resonate in the negotiation of fishing heritage within the contemporary city. Through the convergence of time, place, and memory, this narrative of interweaving stories unveils the intricate complexities of our human interaction with the marine environment and the aftermath when its threads are broken.

In conclusion, Beyond Trawlertown provides a captivating exploration of the British distant-water fishery and its port-city connections during an era of disruption. By combining oral history, archival research, and a holistic narrative approach, the book offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the challenges, responses, and legacy of rapid change. It sheds light on the profound impact of global events and marine policy on the seafaring communities and highlights the ongoing significance of fishing heritage in shaping the contemporary city.

Dimension: 239 x 163 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800856554