GIFS activity 1.2: Case study Arnemuiden
Overview and background
The sandy coastline of the Netherlands borders the southern part of the North Sea between Denmark and Belgium. The total length of the Dutch coastline is around 400km, in which three units can be distinguished: the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt estuary in the SW part, coastal barriers in the central part and the Wadden Islands (Schiermonnikoog, Ameland, Terschelling, Vlieland and Texel) bordering a large tidal flat area in the northern part of the country. Along the coast line, there are five coastal provinces (Zeeland, Zuid-Holland, Noord-Holland, Friesland and Groningen). The Netherlands is part of the top 5 countries with a major role in the European fisheries context with 6,87 % of the total EU production of fish [1]. In 2012 the Dutch fishing fleet consisted of 740 registered vessels, with a combined gross tonnage of 133.7 thousand GT and total power of 286.5 thousand kW. In 2011, the entire fleet realized a fishing effort of 44.8 days at sea. The Dutch fleet landed a total of 261.7 kt. Jack and horse mackerels were the most important species in terms of landed weight. Sole accounted for the highest value of landings (€83 million)[2]. Fishing in the Netherlands accounts for 0.3% of the total employment. The Netherlands commercial fishing fleet comprises both sea and coastal fisheries. Coastal fisheries in the Netherlands are mainly cockle fisheries, seed mussel fisheries, oyster cultures and shrimp fisheries in the East and West Schelde, the Grevelingen, the Voordelta and the Wadden Sea [3]. Inshore fisheries was in place in 15 Dutch fishing communities, from Arnemuiden until Zoutkamp. Each of the inshore fishing communities developed a certain specification, together with specific type of fishing vessel [4].
Geographical location
<googlemap lat="51.50" lon="3.67" zoom="13" width="300" height="300" style="margin-left:-5px; margin-bottom:-17px; padding:0px" type="satellite" selector="yes"> 51.503721,3.67593, Arnemuiden </googlemap>
Arnemuiden (51°30′N 3°40′E) is a small city in the municipality of Middelburg in the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands. The city has a population of 5000 people.1 Arnemuiden was founded in the 15th century, on the place where it is located nowadays, by the inhabitants of old Arnemuiden that was located on the other side of the Arne River. The old Arnemuiden was a thriving trading village, the new Arnemuiden was even more favorable for the ships. Arnemuiden was once located near the sea. There is now little more to see of that mainly due to siltation. Between 1580 and 1600 this process was so fast that large ships could no longer reach Arnemuiden. The ships took a different route and left Arnemuiden for what it was. However fisheries was able to remain an important source of income for the people of Arnemuiden because fishermen moved their fleet to the ports of Veere and Vlissingen late 19th century. In 1901 the fishing fleet of Arnemuiden was at its largest, counting 65 ships. After World War II only 10 ships remained. However fisheries was growing fast, around 1950, fishermen of Arnemuiden started using beam trawlers. Most fisherman were located in Vlissingen and specialized in flat fish fisheries. Some fishermen bought a second cutter ship, in this way family companies grew out into ship-owners. In 2012 the fishing fleet of Arnemuiden counted 43 ships (van Dijke 2013).
- ↑ Europese Commissie (2012). Het gemeenschappelijk visserijbeleid gevat in getallen: statistische gegevens. Bureau voor publicaties van de Europese Unie: Luxemburg. 48 pp.
- ↑ The 2012 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF-12-10)
- ↑ Venema, N. (2001). An overview of the Netherlands Open Sea and Coastal Fisheries: State of the art. Fish. Cent. Res. Rep. 9(3): 141-161
- ↑ Boelmans Kranenburg, H.A.H. (1977). Achter de branding: De visserij van de Nederlandse kustplaatsen. De Boer Maritiem: Bussum. ISBN 90-228-1972-8. 111 pp.
