Cod Wars

Cod Wars refers to a series of confrontations between the United Kingdom and Iceland regarding fishing rights in the North Atlantic. These disputes occurred intermittently from the 1950s to the 1970s, with the most significant incidents taking place in the 1970s. The term "Cod Wars" is a play on the term "Cold War" and is used to describe the nature of the disputes, which involved naval forces but did not escalate into full-scale warfare.

Background

The Cod Wars arose from a dispute over the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a sea zone prescribed by the United Nations over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources. Iceland, a small island nation heavily dependent on fishing for its economy, sought to extend its EEZ to protect its fishing grounds from overfishing by foreign vessels, particularly those from the United Kingdom.

First Cod War (1958–1961)

The First Cod War began in September 1958 when Iceland expanded its fishing zone from 4 to 12 nautical miles. The UK did not recognize this extension and continued to allow its trawlers to fish in the disputed area. The conflict escalated into a series of confrontations between the Icelandic Coast Guard and British trawlers, with the former attempting to cut the nets of the latter.

Second Cod War (1972–1973)

The Second Cod War was triggered by Iceland's decision to extend its fishing zone to 50 nautical miles. This led to further confrontations between the two nations, with the UK deploying naval vessels to protect its fishing fleet.

Third Cod War (1975–1976)

The Third Cod War saw the most serious confrontations, with Iceland extending its fishing zone to 200 nautical miles. The UK responded by sending a larger naval force, leading to several incidents where ships from both sides collided. The conflict ended in 1976 when the UK agreed to limit its fishing activities within Iceland's 200-mile zone.

Aftermath

The Cod Wars had significant implications for international law and the management of marine resources. They led to the recognition of a 200-mile EEZ as a standard under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

See also

• Fishing industry in Iceland
• Fishing industry in the United Kingdom
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

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