Times appear to be changing as the recession forces people to rethink their priorities, especially so in Iceland which has been hit so severely that the country is on the verge of bankruptcy. Surprisingly enough though, their situation is apparently leading to better times in Grimsby!
Back in the 70’s relations between Iceland and Great Britain were greatly strained by the Cod Wars. Iceland had decided that they wouldn’t allow foreign fisherman within 20 miles of the coastline and enforced their unilateral decision by boarding ships that entered the 20 mile limit. It even got to the stage where the Royal Navy started firing warning shots over the bows of the Icelandic aggressors! A number of factors coupled with this saw a decline in the fishing industry in Grimsby, which was once the biggest fishing port in the world. No love lost between Grimsby and Reykjavik then!
However, Iceland has now had to rethink its strategies to try and rebuild its crippled economy and has decided to use one of its greatest natural resources – fresh fish! And where would be the best place to sell all this fish? Grimsby! For the first time in over a decade the Icelanders are sending fish to Grimsby and have even increased the cod quota by 30,000 metric tones!
Net result (pun intended!)? Iceland are happy because they get a good deal and are promptly paid, we get a good deal as the extra quantities should bring down wholesale prices and hopefully lead to cheaper fish in the shops.
I’m almost tempted to say things are going swimmingly well!
