SEAFOOD
We in Wales are fortunate to have coastline along the Northern, Western and Southern reaches of the principality and our chilly seas have yielded countless tons of seafood for many centuries.
RECIPES
ABOUT SEAFOOD
MIDDLE AGE GROWTH
- During the Middle Ages, Europeans were encouraged to eat fish by the Roman Catholic Church, who permitted its consumption during periods of fasting. However, in Britain the Reformation altered the ideals of fasting, which had a negative impact on the fishing industry. The number of fishing vessels were reduced, freshwater fisheries found themselves surplus to requirements and fish farming was very nearly abolished.
- The importance of fish farming actually declined throughout Europe for a variety of reasons but mainly due to the growing importance of marine fishing. Marine captures yielded large numbers, far more than the fish farms could ever manage and, consequently, reduced their contribution to the industry. The demand for certain types of salted fish was growing and, in turn, this led to the development of seafood markets worldwide.
- Seafood consumption was growing and marine captures were deemed to be most important. For example, the latter part of the 17th Century saw salted fish as one of Britains primary exports to Europe. Marine fishing became so important that peace treaties between countries very often involved fishing rights that determined who could catch what and in which waters they were allowed to do so. Indeed, territorial fishing has remained a subject of much argument and discussion to this very day.
- For many centuries, one of the most caught fish in the world has been Cod. During medieval times, Nordic and Basque colonies were the first to use drying and salting methods to preserve cod. With the discovery of Newfoundland by John Cabot in 1497, cod was found to be in abundance and a major fishery was established. By the mid 16th century, cod caught along the coast of Newfoundland and New England made up 60% of the total amount of fish eaten by Europeans.
- The popularity of cod led to a surge in interested fishermen from France, England, Spain and Portugal leaving their homelands to cross the cold, harsh Atlantic Ocean to claim a stake in this seemingly endless source of seafood. Cod became an important trading commodity due to its popularity and technological advances meant that huge amounts were being caught each year. Over the centuries, the impact of such vigorous cod fishing has led to declining stocks and the consequences of overfishing are creating problems within the seafood industry.