The long ‘lost’ history of bottom trawling in England, c.1350–1650

Jones, P. (2018) The long ‘lost’ history of bottom trawling in England, c.1350–1650. International Journal of Maritime History, 30(2), pp. 201-217. (doi: 10.1177/0843871418766765)

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Abstract

This article considers the early history of bottom trawling in England. It demonstrates that trawling – and, in particular, beam trawling – has a very long history stretching back to at least the fourteenth century. Over the following two centuries it spread from the Thames Estuary along the south and south-east coasts, and by 1600 its use was widespread and it was being pursued some distance from shore. The article also shows that bottom trawling has always been a controversial practice, and that by the early modern period it was highly unpopular, not only among non-trawling fishermen (who viewed it as a threat to their livelihood), but with many in positions of power who sought to limit and even prohibit its use. Finally, the article considers the contemporary significance of this newly exposed history, given that historical complaints about bottom trawling were framed in remarkably similar terms to those used by its modern opponents.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Jones, Dr Peter
Authors: Jones, P.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:International Journal of Maritime History
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:0843-8714
ISSN (Online):2052-7756
Published Online:31 May 2018

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