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Fishing in Zeeland

History

Fishing is one of the most important cultures in Zeeland. The first known record of fishing ships in the province dates back to the fourteenth century. In those days herring fishing was the primary form of fishing in Zeeland. Fishing was the source of the local economy for a long time. The most important seaports for fishing were Vlissingen, Breskens and Colijnsplaat, where you could also find a fish market on the docks.
Nowadays, fishing is no longer the stronghold for the local economy. From 1870 onwards things changed. Mussel and oyster fishing was replaced by cultivation. Parts of the Oosterschelde were sold to the upper-middle class who were given the exclusive right to cultivate and harvest. This was for many of the small fishermen an economic coup de grâce. It was an economic boom for Yerseke, the centre of mussel and oyster fishing. It grew from a small hamlet into the heart of the mussel and oyster industry worldwide.
Today, about 900 inhabitants of Zeeland are still employed in the fishing industry. In a broader sense, approximately 2300 people work in the fishing industry and the related industries, such as trade. About 50 cutters are active. Sole, plaice, cod and whiting are the main species fished. For the year 2000, the total value of the fish supply was 53 million euro. (Vlissingen 34 million euro, Breskens 11 million euro and Colijnsplaat 9 million euro).

The mussels and oysters of Yerseke

The Zeeland mussels and oysters (mostly from the Oosterschelde) are world famous. Yerseke forms the centre of the shellfish culture. The mussel culture dates back to the fifteenth century. In the spring and autumn, the seed mussels are collected especially out of the Waddenzee. They are then planted on special parcels in the Waddenzee or Oosterschelde.
In order to bring the mussel and oyster fishing back to a decent and economic feasible level, a leasing system for the catching of fish was established by Royal Decree in 1866. This meant a drastic reversal in the way mussels and oysters were fished. Before 1866 cultivation was done on so-called wild banks. Now, fishermen are appointed a section of water, on which they can cultivate and harvest. The tenants of the mussel and oyster parcels did their best to try and make the part of water they had least profitable. If someone wanted to be eligible for a parcel, he should at least own a suitable vessel.
Cultivating mussels is fairly simple. Firstly all you need are seed mussels which you can find on seawalls and breakwaters. In the winter, ships would sail to the Waddenzee to collect seed mussels and then sail to their parcels to plant them. After a while the spawn was collected using the trawl technique. The mussel farmers also land their ships in positions which are clear of the water at low tide, so that they can rake off and load the mussels into the hold. Next, the mussels were cleaned and  “stored” underwater awaiting sale.
Today there are about 6000 hectares of mussel parcels in the Waddenzee and the Oosterschelde. These parcels are let by the Government to about 80 Zeeland farmers.
The oyster culture was a little more complicated. Until the end of the nineteenth century the farmers used tiles as subsoil for the oyster seed. Those tiles had to be cleaned and turned over regularly. This was done during low tide. Before winter the tiles were removed from the water and the oyster seeds were cut off. In the oyster pits, wooden windows were covered with mesh and between those layers of mesh, the seeds were planted. All this was intensive work and today it would be prohibited. The nets protected the seed against crabs and other predators. Occasionally the spawn was cleaned and the water changed. After a year the little oysters were placed on the cultivation banks. In the twentieth century the tiles were replaced by shells.

Other fishing in Zeeland

Professional eel fishing takes place on the Oosterschelde and the inland waterways. Some lobster fishing is performed on the Oosterschelde from April 1st through to the middle of July. From the end of August to the beginning of December, over twenty ships are in action along the Oosterschelde and the Westerschelde, fishing for cockles.