Loading Cod Wars - Negotiation at Sea

Introduction

In this activity, you will be roleplaying as the United Kingdom in negotiations with Iceland during the Cod Wars. After you read through each scenario, you will be presented with a Negotiation Point. Choose the option that you feel will yield the most desirable result.

The year is 1952. In the United Kingdom, demand for fish has reached a high, forcing fishermen to venture out further into the ocean to meet the demand. The oceans surrounding Iceland are known for their abundance in fish, but Iceland has recently declared an extension of its fishery limits from 3 to 4 nautical miles (nmi) which would impact the UK’s ability to acquire the quantity of fish needed.

Negotiation Point

What should the UK do to convince Icelandic government to let them fish off its shores?

Two years later, the UN convenes on the Law of the Sea with 86 countries and decides the 4nmi zone should be extended to 12nmi. NATO members oppose Iceland’s decision to extend the zone.

Negotiation Point

What should the UK’s next step be?

Many years go by and Iceland decides to expand its fishing limits once more – this time from 12 to 50nmi to conserve fish stocks and increase Iceland’s share of total catches.

Negotiation Point

What should the UK’s next step be?

Iceland threatens to leave NATO due to their lack of support during the conflicts. If they leave NATO, this could open the door for the Soviet Union to strategically occupy the Atlantic Ocean.

Negotiation Point

What should the UK’s next step be?

At the UN conference in 1975, several countries support a 100nmi limit to territorial waters. Iceland defies this limit by extending theirs to 200nmi. UK does not recognize this increase and disputes begin again.

Negotiation Point

What should the UK’s next step be?

Conclusion

The key to any successful negotiation is balance and compromise. Make too many low-risk choices and you may find yourself leaving the negotiation empty-handed. But if you make too many risky choices, the negotiations could come to a stop completely.

Based on the choices you made in the Negotiation Points, you tend toward:

Timeline of Cod Wars

The Proto War – 1952 - 1956

March 1952

Iceland extends their fishing limits from 3nm to 4nm.

1952

UK imposes landing ban on Icelandic fish at British ports.

Iceland refers the situation to the International Court of Justice.

  • Russia starts purchasing Icelandic fish.
  • USA, Spain, and Italy also start purchasing Icelandic fish.

1956

Iceland gets their 4nm exclusion zone.

1958

Two years later, the UN convenes on the Law of the Sea with 86 countries and decides the 4nm zone should be extended to 12nm.

First Cod War – 09/01/1958 - 03/11/1961

09/01/1958

NATO members oppose Iceland’s decision to extend the zone and UK declares their trawlers would fish within the zone under the protection of its warships. 20 trawlers, 4 warships, and a supply vessel are deployed to the area.

09/01/1958

Iceland has protests on land and the Icelandic government attempts to defend its waters.

09/04/1958

Icelandic coast guard vessel tries to detain a British trawler but is scuppered by a Royal Navy vessel. As a result, the ships collided.

10/06/1958

A British trawler is fired upon by Icelandic patrol vessel, forcing it back out to sea.

11/12/1958

A British trawler is fired upon by Icelandic coastguard vessel while fishing outside of the designated area. Royal Navy comes to the rescue, threatening to sink the Icelandic patrol if any more shots are fired.

Feb 1961

During UN conference, UK and Iceland come to an agreement - Iceland could keep and enforce their 12nm limit and UK would have rights to fish within the outer 6nm zone for three years. Iceland conceded that any further expansions would be determined by the International Court of Justice in the Hague, rather than being decided unilaterally.

The first cod war saw a total of 37 Royal Navy vessels and 7000 sailors protecting the UK fishing fleet from 6 Icelandic gunboats and 100 coastguards.

Second Cod War - 09/1972 - 11/1973

Iceland extends its fishing limits from 12nm to 50nm to conserve fish stocks and increase Iceland’s share of total catches. They had considered a 200nm limit but the 50nm option was more manageable.

UK contests Iceland’s claims on the grounds that they also had the right to enable greatest possible catch quota for the British fisherman and to prevent future unilateral decisions being an accepted practice.

09/01/1972

A law was ratified enabling the fishing limits to be expanded to 50nm.

09/02/1972

Despite the new law, British and German trawlers continued to fish within the zone, so Icelandic coastguard vessels chased 16 trawlers out of the 50 mile zone.

09/05/1972

Icelandic patrols began deploying net cutters against British trawlers.

11/25/1972

A crewman on a German trawler had his skull broken when a wire was cut and struck him.

01/23/1973

Icelandic patrols had to divert attention to rescue inhabitants of a small island when a volcano erupted.

05/17/1973

British trawlers leave the area but return two days later escorted by the Royal Navy.

08/29/1973

Icelandic coastguard vessel collides with a British trawler, resulting in the first fatality.

09/16/1973

Growing pressure from the population had Iceland considering leaving NATO due to their lack of support during the conflicts.

10/08/1973

Secretary General visits to smooth things over. An agreement was reached that would limit UK trawlers to 130,000 tons of fish and British frigates were recalled from that area. The agreement would come to an end in 1975.

Third Cod War - 11/1975 - 06/1976

07/15/1975

UN conference saw several countries supporting a 100nm limit to territorial waters. Iceland, in defiance, extended their limits to 200nm. The British government did not recognize this increase and disputes erupted again.

12/11/1975

Three British ships are caught by Icelandic patrols within their limits. When ordered to leave, three tugboats initially complied but then veered to hit the the coastguard vessel as it attempted to overtake it. A small battle ensued between coastguard vessels and these British boats and shots were fired, nearly sinking the ship.

02/19/1976

Icelandic ships continued cutting the British vessel’s nets, resulting in additional casualties.

02/19/1976

Britain deploys 22 frigates and reactivated other ships, refitting them with ramming gear and reinforced wooden bows. They also deployed seven supply ships, nine tugboats, and three support ships to protect its fishing trawlers. Major structural damage was caused to these ships as they rammed Icelandic gunboats.

05/06/1976

Iceland deploys four patrol vessels and two armed trawlers. They tried to acquire additional gunboats but were denied.

05/06/1976

Iceland threatens to close NATO base, which would severely impair NATO’s ability to defend the Atlantic Ocean from the Soviet Union.

06/01/1976

Britain agrees to have its fishermen stay outside Iceland’s 200nm exclusion zone.

Activity is complete.