Fishing Architecture: The Ecological Continuum between Buildings and Fish Species

Project Information

FISH-A

Grant agreement ID: 101044244

DOI

10.3030/101044244

EC signature date 18 April 2022

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 31 August 2027

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 2 001 468,00

EU contribution

€ 2 001 468,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FISH-A (Fishing Architecture: The Ecological Continuum between Buildings and Fish Species)

Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2025-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The shores of the North Atlantic house diverse architectural cultures and its waters are home to a wealth of fish species. The industrialisation of fisheries in the early 19th century and the globalisation of the industry at the end of the 20th century impacted the area’s fishing architecture. The ERC-funded FISH-A project will assess the ecological impact of fishing constructions and the natural resources they depend upon. Specifically, it will advance our understanding of the ecological impact of human activity. The project will focus on marine ecosystems, fishing technology, food processing, politics, and consumption habits in order to offer a new perspective on construction, in which fishing landscapes bring together land and sea.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

So far, research has focused on four case studies: the Sado estuary in Portugal, Brittany in France, Ísafjörður in Iceland, and Gloucester in Massachusetts. It has involved substantial archival research, the identification of fishing operations with an assessment of historical landings, a mapping of urban developments, and an inventory of buildings and constructions. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), these materials are being interwoven and discussed in relation to each other, with a special focus on cod and sardine fisheries. In parallel, species life cycles and Habitat Suitability Models are being developed to hindcast the historical environmental conditions supporting cod habitats in the North Atlantic. The ongoing challenge is to integrate disparate data and information within a coherent matrix to address the interrelation between species behaviour and terrestrial urban developments and architectural features. A main achievement under review for publication is the identification of intertwined timelines for the different cycles of fish species, fisheries, and associated building practices.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The expected impact of the project is to improve the capacity to describe the life cycle of marine species in relation to the associated terrestrial landscapes. This can impact urban and marine planning instruments as well as strategies to ensure ecosystem preservation. Once a methodology has been established; further research can be developed to expand the hypotheses to include different species and ecosystems: from fish to other species, from marine areas to coastal or inland territories. There are possible strategies to expand the research into specific instruments that go beyond the state of the art and can eventually be used for ecosystem analysis and management.

The United States Court at the Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883. Illustration by Frederick Whymper