The recreational ruin / Fading fishing village / The labor camp / Inventive Societies
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THE LABOR CAMP
Industrialized production, independent of place as a social and cultural construct.
In a Norwegian context, this is a new type of fishing settlement, a specialized industrial area employed by seasonal workers from low-cost countries, in the cod-season used as a base and harbor for delivering catch by fishing-vessels from other parts of the country, functioning more like a labor camp than a society.
In a Norwegian context, this is a new type of fishing settlement, a specialized industrial area employed by seasonal workers from low-cost countries, in the cod-season used as a base and harbor for delivering catch by fishing-vessels from other parts of the country, functioning more like a labor camp than a society.
Place
Senjahopen is located on the southern side of the 16-kilometre long and steep Mefjorden, stretching into the northwestern part of Senja, and is together with Husøy, the village on the island that handles most cod-fish. The settlement is characterized by the well-protected and huge natural harbor that gives name to the place (hop meaning gulf or ocean bay)1. The permanent population consists of around 300 people2. Mefjordvær, further out in the fjord, was established already in medieval times, with more agricultural resources and closer to the fishing fields. But the historic village could not compete in terms of harbor qualities after Senjahopen was established in the 1970s.
The large-scale industrial fish landing and processing facilities are organized along the harbor. These facilities are capable of receiving catch from vessels of a larger scale than most traditional fishing villages, sheltering – without the need for constructed breakwaters – trawlers and large combination vessels.
In compliance with EU food health regulations, the landing facilities are closed off to the public and are in principle inaccessible for the local population. This is modern food-industries. Like in most North Norwegian fishing industries the seasonal work force consists of workers from low-cost lands within the EEA legislation system. The social, cultural and commercial facilities in Senjahopen (also covering Mefjordvær) are rather weak: Matkroken general store and petrol station, Mix kiosk, Senjahopen school and kindergarten, and for sports, Senjahallen.
Production
Senjahopen, is a proper illustration of the general tendencies in the fishing industries and in the villages: Structural rationalization of the industries, fewer settlements, fewer owners, and merging between the ownership of the fleet and in the industries on land. At the time of our research, in the winter of 2018, there were two different fishing industries in the harbor: Alex Hansen A/S and a plant owned by Nergård A/S. Today Aksel Hansen and Aksel Hansen Eiendom A/S belong to The Nergård Group, a major player in the Norwegian fishing industry.
Nergård started in the 1970s at Lysnes in Senja and expanded to Senjahopen by purchasing Fredriksen Fiskeforretning in 1972 and Eilertsenbruket in 1980. A shrimp factory was added, along with a factory for the production of herring and capelin (lodde). A fillet-freezing plant was established in 2001 following the investments in trawlers and the establishment of Nergård havfiske in 2008. The competitiveness of Senjahopen was strengthened by the opening of Geitskartunnellen in 2004, making the drive between Senjahopen and Finnsnes shorter and improving the connections to the national infrastructure.
The port has been improved several times, to make room for trawlers and the delivery of pelagic fish. In the new Senja municipality – Berg, Lenvik, Trosken and Tranøy municipalities merging in 2020 – the development of fisheries-based industry is a key objective. This involves, among other things, strengthening the competitiveness of Senjahopen as an attractive fishing port for the coastal fishing fleet. The government do large-scale investments in the harbor. 39 million were allocated to Senjahopen in the period 2018-2023 and 100 million for the period 2024-2029.3
Future
The future of Senjahopen is probably to be further developed as an effective and seasonal base that is maintained in order to harvest marine resources. There might be a potential to merge the potentials of the twin communities Mefjordvær and Senjahopen by further developing all-year tourism and recreational living, and using the potential in digital processing and robotics to establish new high-skilled jobs both in the fleet and in the industries.
Senjahopen, is a proper illustration of the general tendencies in the fishing industries and in the villages: Structural rationalization of the industries, fewer settlements, fewer owners, and merging between the ownership of the fleet and in the industries on land. At the time of our research, in the winter of 2018, there were two different fishing industries in the harbor: Alex Hansen A/S and a plant owned by Nergård A/S. Today Aksel Hansen and Aksel Hansen Eiendom A/S belong to The Nergård Group, a major player in the Norwegian fishing industry.
Nergård started in the 1970s at Lysnes in Senja and expanded to Senjahopen by purchasing Fredriksen Fiskeforretning in 1972 and Eilertsenbruket in 1980. A shrimp factory was added, along with a factory for the production of herring and capelin (lodde). A fillet-freezing plant was established in 2001 following the investments in trawlers and the establishment of Nergård havfiske in 2008. The competitiveness of Senjahopen was strengthened by the opening of Geitskartunnellen in 2004, making the drive between Senjahopen and Finnsnes shorter and improving the connections to the national infrastructure.
The port has been improved several times, to make room for trawlers and the delivery of pelagic fish. In the new Senja municipality – Berg, Lenvik, Trosken and Tranøy municipalities merging in 2020 – the development of fisheries-based industry is a key objective. This involves, among other things, strengthening the competitiveness of Senjahopen as an attractive fishing port for the coastal fishing fleet. The government do large-scale investments in the harbor. 39 million were allocated to Senjahopen in the period 2018-2023 and 100 million for the period 2024-2029.3
Future
The future of Senjahopen is probably to be further developed as an effective and seasonal base that is maintained in order to harvest marine resources. There might be a potential to merge the potentials of the twin communities Mefjordvær and Senjahopen by further developing all-year tourism and recreational living, and using the potential in digital processing and robotics to establish new high-skilled jobs both in the fleet and in the industries.
1https://www.berg.kommune.no/?id=606254
2”December 2019”
3https://www.berg.kommune.no/?id=6062548
2”December 2019”
3https://www.berg.kommune.no/?id=6062548