FISHERNET - Fishing Cultural Heritage Network
The Stefansson Arctic Institute participated in the European Project Fishernet, a three-year collaborative effort of fishing nations in Europe. The Fishernet Project was launched in September of 2008 with the objective of preserving, disseminating and utilising cultural heritage connected with sea-farers, environmental knowledge and the unique culture of fishing communities. Key participants are from the autonomous community of Galicia in Spain, the project leaders; Iceland; Norway; The Orkney Islands north of Scotland; Bulgaria; and Cyprus.
The Stefansson Arctic Institute‘s participation in the Fishernet project involves an emphasis on coastal- and fishing cultural heritage in Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Through cooperation with numerous institutes, museums, exhibitions, scolars, organizations and enthusiasts that are in one way or another involved in this important aspect of cultural heritage, an extensive database is being compiled and created. This is a web-based collection of content relating to various aspects of coastal- and fishing cultural heritage of Iceland, ranging from stories and objects of a distant past to contemporary issues; for example coastal relics, introduction of marine-related heritage, lighthouses, completed or on-going various interesting projects. Additionally, published material, essays, articles and lectures will be collected and a list of published books that are related to coastal- and fishing culture in various ways, compiled.
This hub of coastal and fishing related information will thus include text, audio and visual material on life at sea; the roles of women and men in fishing communities; environmental knowledge; lighthouses; culinary traditions; music; boats; games; and sea-monsters, to name but a few. This will provide easier access to information and introduction to one of Iceland‘s most important cultural heritage.
The Stefansson Arctic Institute places a strong emphasis on the participation and cooperation of a wide range of actors; not least grassroots initiatives creatively contributing to the dissemination of fishing cultural heritage, making it appealing and exiting for future generation
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