Cod, construction, and communities: Relations between fish and architectural history in Ísafjörður, Iceland.

Abstract

Understanding the interplay between ecological processes and human-built environments is key to addressing the entangled dynamics of marine and terrestrial landscapes, yet these relationships are often studied separately. This paper addresses this issue by exploring the socioecological histories of North Atlantic fishing landscapes, with a focus on Ísafjörður, situated in the Westfjords of Iceland, a critical site in the history of cod ( Gadus morhua) fisheries. It presents the outcomes of a weeklong workshop that explored the connections between urban development and cod populations through three thematic lenses: 1) the urban development of Ísafjörður, 2) the life cycle of cod, and 3) Icelandic fisheries. A range of interdisciplinary methods was applied, including archival photography analysis, historical mapping, cod movement pattern reconstruction, oceanographic data assessment, investigation of vessel technology, and fisheries data analysis. Our findings reveal overlapping timelines that link fish population cycles with patterns of urban growth, highlighting points of convergence where ecological and social dynamics intersect. Visual representation was used as an integrative tool to translate between marine processes and the built environment. By reflecting on the workshop's experiments and achievements, this paper proposes strategies for future research at the intersection of ecology, fisheries, and architecture.