Cod Wars

Consider the cod. It is a common species of fish, unremarkable in taste or activity. It is a rather unprepossessing fish, its main ability is to produce huge quantities of young. Yet, this dull fish was the cause of two NATO allies going to the brink of war. Between November 1975 and June 1976, Great Britain and Iceland confronted each other over Iceland's proclaiming its authority over the ocean up to 200 miles from its coast. The issue was the amount of cod caught by British and Icelandic fishermen. This "war" consisted of British fishing trawlers having their nets cut by the Icelandic Coast Guard and numerous rammings between Icelandic ships and British trawlers and frigates. The "war" caused Iceland to threaten to close the NATO base at Keflavik, which would have had major repercussions on the ability of NATO to defend the Atlantic Ocean from Soviet incursions. With this threat hanging over its head, plus the international trend towards a 200 mile economic exclusion zone, and the economic cost of the conflict, Great Britain agreed to have its fishermen stay outside Iceland's 200 mile economic zone without specific agreements.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Cod
• Wars
• Icelandic
• Coast
• Guard
• Royal
• Navy
• United
• Kingdom
• Landhelgisgæslan
• Ísland
• Iceland
• Nato
• John
• Cleese

[Daringa]

What is the name of the song that is playing in the background? It is annoyingly catchly!!!

[Sturlast]

@Daringa "Stolt siglir fleyið mitt" by Gylfi Ægisson

[tungata8]

pfff.... the EU just want our cod.

[EdwardJayPumpkinhead]

Iceland can say 'Goodbye' to its exclusive fishing rights when it joints the EU. What a shame!

[Titaniumomeega]

I send a HUGE great warm hug to all Icelandic man and womens! ^^ you are fair humain beings so we portuguese respect you icelandic with all our honor ans souls! our peoples have great sailors and we share a good taste to the cod xD we portuguese love cod and you see it in all our gastronomy! ;D

[kiddalingur]

Hvaða lag er þetta ???

[jimsanj6]

@Daringa its called the" strip me bollark naked and take me to the cook"" an old icelandic gunboat ditty!

[crapatev]

@kiddalingur We are all cod now

[kiddalingur]

@crapatev

that is right how ever the brits have no rights to

fish in our jurisdiction,

[kiddalingur]

@desihify

nation with no army ware protecting them selfs

and there fish-erys

aginst bullying from a lager nation

keep that in mind, sorry for pp how got hungry or broke

but fish on you own island or aaround it , uppz forgot

you gave it up for the euorp state

[desihify]

Respect.

I served on HMS Diomede in this conflict.RO {G).as seen at 1.41. We were rammed

and took in water a steward was killed in the action. We were just trying to serve our country

and protect the lively hoods of our fellow country men.Out side of the 12 mile international law

limit.Dont forget who was in the wrong then!!

[tolli97]

Blackmailing is not a very proud way to win the cod war :P

[MarekKrassus53]

God save the cod! :P

[FabuleuxFab88]

lyrics please