Russian Fishing Activities off the Coast of Finnmark – A Legal History

Abstract

The rich fishery resources off the coast of Finnmark have historically attracted fishermen from other parts of Norway and from neighbouring countries. This article discusses the legal history of Russian fishing activities off the coast of Finnmark and covers the historical period from the 1700s until the termination of this fishery in the early 1900s. The article shows that Russian fishermen, like the Sámi from Finland—and unlike fishermen from other nations, were authorized to establish shacks and landing places. Both the agreements and legal disputes surrounding the fishery, which lasted until World War I, are discussed in the article.