Dramatic footage of Cod Wars in new documentary

A new documentary film about the experiences of Humber fishermen during the Cod Wars has been produced by Hull’s Carnegie Heritage Centre.

Cod and Communism tells the story of those who fished in Icelandic waters between 1957 and 1977, the era which became known as the Cod Wars.

Featuring dramatic footage of gunboats ramming trawlers in already perilous waters, the film also contains interviews with fishermen and their families, members of the Royal Navy, historians and politicians.

DANGER: A collision between a gunboat and a trawler during the Cod Wars

Despite the might of the Royal Navy, over a period of 20 years Iceland was able to drive British trawlermen from the North Atlantic as Iceland “held the key to Western defence”, the narrator says.

The film is about that fight over three Cod Wars - a conflict that became a sideshow of the Cold War.

The documentary was funded by a £10,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and saw volunteers from Carnegie Heritage Centre help research, plan and film the project.

Executive producer Lia Nici, of Grimsby-based Waterside Films, said: “The Cod Wars had such a huge impact on the fishing fleets of the Humber - they finally helped to seal the end of the Humber fishing industry.

KNOWLEDGE: Former Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson

“Cod and Communism  looks back at how the trawler fishing industry was actually part of a much bigger, political struggle that was going on across Europe and the North Atlantic at the time. Pulling all of this history together, with local people’s memories and recollections of the period between 1957 to 1977, has resulted in a fascinating programme.”

The project has also seen volunteers from the Carnegie Heritage Centre receive training in research and interview skills, and professional and video sound recording techniques. In addition to producing the film, the project has developed an archive of interviews, digitised photographs and other documents for the future use of heritage researchers.

EXPERIENCE: Former distant water trawlerman Ron Bateman

Liz Shepherd, chair of Carnegie Heritage Centre, said: “We were delighted to receive a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Their support has allowed us to train volunteers in new skills and leave a lasting archive of memories of the Humber fishing community.”

The film is available to stream, download, and on DVD from the Carnegie Heritage Centre web site (www.carnegiehull.co.uk). In addition it is also available to view on Amazon Prime and will be shown on local TV station That's TV at a later date.

CATCH: A trawler laden with cod