the bacalhau story
História a História
an human legend that starts in the 15th century.
but only in the 20th century it grows as a political issue.
6 months in the other side of the ocean with low paid labour.
each man alone in a small boat, fishing with a line and returning to the main boat after 8 hours, to work even hours more until the fish was prepared and salted.
the government at that time, a dictatorship, helped the owners of the boats, supply chain industries and fishermen organizations in order to have cheap salted and dried cod to feed the people.
at the same time promoted a symbol of a country bringing back again richness from sea (after the Portuguese discoveries in 15th and 16th centuries).
then trawlers came and the overfishing situation gave less fish and smaller with consequently economic losses.
Economic Exclusive Zones were created, Portugal joins the European Community and national fisheries became ruled by the Common Fisheries Policy.
after this all story Portuguese still eat bacalhau more than ever and it is the main dish in Christmas celebration.
but now it is most of it imported from Norway and Iceland.
an human legend that starts in the 15th century.
but only in the 20th century it grows as a political issue.
6 months in the other side of the ocean with low paid labour.
each man alone in a small boat, fishing with a line and returning to the main boat after 8 hours, to work even hours more until the fish was prepared and salted.
the government at that time, a dictatorship, helped the owners of the boats, supply chain industries and fishermen organizations in order to have cheap salted and dried cod to feed the people.
at the same time promoted a symbol of a country bringing back again richness from sea (after the Portuguese discoveries in 15th and 16th centuries).
then trawlers came and the overfishing situation gave less fish and smaller with consequently economic losses.
Economic Exclusive Zones were created, Portugal joins the European Community and national fisheries became ruled by the Common Fisheries Policy.
after this all story Portuguese still eat bacalhau more than ever and it is the main dish in Christmas celebration.
but now it is most of it imported from Norway and Iceland.