Fishing in Øresund

Fish was originally the most valuable source of affluence in the Øresund region. Already in the 13th century merchants from Lübeck, Rostock, Hamburg, Utrecht and Kampen came to by herring and other fish at such commercial centers as Falsterbo, Skanör, Malmö and Dragør in the Sound. In the 14th century Øresund attracted merchants from still farther away, e.g. from Scotland, England, Flanders and Normandy.

In the famous Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus (History of the Northern Peoples) by Olaus Magnus (published in 1555) the importance of the herring trade in Øresund was illustrated by this picture.

Already in 1200 the Dane Saxo Grammaticus described in his history of Denmark how the Sound sometimes had been so full of herring shoals that the fishing boats were unable to move. "On such occasions fish can be cought be bare hands", wrote Saxo.

There are still a number of small commercial fishing vessels operating in Øresund, but the big trawlers, like this Russian stern trawler, only pass by on their way to their regular fishing waters in the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.

Some of the old fishing boats are now taking sport fishermen on day tours in the Sound.

Another of the shipping.dk boats

You do not need a boat in order to try your luck in Øresund.