SINCE BEFORE 1900

Prawn fishing has a long history in Norway. In 1897, the marine biologist Johan Hjort discovered large prawn stocks in the Langesundsfjord and profitable prawn fishing started already the following autumn.

Before then, large prawn stocks were only known to exist in the Drammensfjord, where they were fished on a small-scale – using small scoop nets!

In the early 1900s, prawns were fished from sailing vessels, but these were soon replaced by steamships and motor boats. During World War I, sailing vessels were once again used due to fuel shortages. It was very challenging to trawl for prawns in the narrow prawn fields along the Norwegian coast – it was a hard life. Today, prawn fishing in the Barents Sea and near Svalbard and Greenland is done using big trawlers.