The three so-called Kabeljaukriege developed between Iceland and Great Britain in the years 1958 to 1975. Iceland expanded its fishing limits of 4 to 12, then 50 and last on 200 nautical miles.

Causes

Iceland from fishery products gains a substantial part of its export incomes; it maintains even neither military still another navy. After the modernization of the foreign catch fleets Iceland quit 1952 the old 3-Seemeilen-Abkommen closed with Denmark and established a protected zone of four nautical miles in. From protest Great Britain boycotted the import of Icelandic fish, thereupon the began to build efficient cold treatment plants and tried new sales markets to open.

First Kabeljaukrieg

Because of renewed overfishing Iceland 1958 decided to extend the zone on 12 nautical miles, whereupon England sent warships away for the protection of the British ships in the 12-Seemeilen-Zone. It came to relatively harmless arguments between Icelandic coastal awake boats and British Trawlern. After the protest of the at the UN and before the NATO advice, Great Britain had the 12-Seemeilen-Zone to finally recognize and withdraw itself.

Second Kabeljaukrieg

To that it at the beginning of the 70's again for the collapse of the fish existence in the Icelandic territorial waters came and the income Fischer strongly sank, extended one 1972 again the protected zone on this time 50 nautical miles. Thus now Iceland stressed 30% the basicFischer-slow-acting in the North Atlantic. The Englishmen and German did not want to recognize this and came in such a way it to further arguments. The destroyed the catch devices of strange Fischerboote within, its "50 nautical mile protected zone was. The high point was reached in May 1973, when a British Trawler was fired at of an Icelandic awake boat and damaged to deplore here was now also human life. After the USA interfered into the switchings, the controversy could be finally settled. Great Britain accepted the expansion of the zone after it special catch rights had received. For the USA a possible loss of the base finally stood on the play.

Third Kabeljaukrieg

The extension of the protected zone showed not the hoped for effect and could not also the economic problems solve. 1974 announced the Icelandic Prime Minister Geir the expansion on 200 nautical miles, which one year was implemented later. Great Britain sent thereupon again Trawler under the protection of warships into the Icelandic coastal region. The cut again the nets of strange ships (among other things also German Fischerboote) and rammed the British warships. The diplomatic relations between Iceland and Great Britain was temporarily interrupted 1976. The conflict was settled on the way of negotiations and on 2 June 1976 accepted the British government in a interCIM contract the 200-Seemeilen-Zone.

Result

Small and militaryless Iceland could implement its interests in all 3 wars against the desires of the great power Great Britain. The 200-sm-Zone Iceland was introduced to 1 January 1977 in all European Union states. On 10 December 1982 the UN article 57 of the maritime law convention adopted, therefore can the fishing limit up to 200 nautical miles be expanded. The yields of the could be increased and be had from year to year international agreements led across catch quotas to stopping the fish decrease. So today peace in this question could in-turn.

See also: the section in the history of Iceland

See also

• Buttkrieg

Related links

• Icelandic fishery economy

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