Project FisHistory
LightNews LightNews
banner
projectfishistory.bsky.social
Project FisHistory
@projectfishistory.bsky.social
98 followers 78 following 27 posts
Combining historical, local & scientific knowledge on herring:
• Spawning grounds
• Long-term change
• Importance

Cyfuno gwybodaeth hanesyddol, lleol a gwyddonol am benwaig:
• Silfeydd
• Newidiadau tymor hir
• Pwysigrwydd

@BangorUniversity
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
projectfishistory.bsky.social
Project FisHistory @projectfishistory.bsky.social · Aug 29
We'll be visiting ports in Mid-South Wales e.g., Fishguard and Aberystwyth next week (2nd-4th September). If you're from the area and know anything about the Irish Sea herring fishery (past or present), or know someone who does, please get in touch here or at fishistory@bangor.ac.uk🐟
projectfishistory.bsky.social
This time last week our team were midway through an interdisciplinary research visit at the National library of Wales 📖 The marine scientists came away with a newfound appreciation for the art of deciphering handwriting! @ystadaucymru.bsky.social @leafyhistory.bsky.social @emilyphilly.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
alecbmmoore.bsky.social
New evidence in @science.org that herring🐟 spawn where they were spawned (natal homing) adds urgency to the work @projectfishistory.bsky.social is doing @sosbangor.bsky.social - identifying unmapped spawning areas using historical sources 📜 & living knowledge 🎣🗣️

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Direct evidence of natal homing in an Atlantic herring metapopulation
Herring return annually to their natal spawning sites, highlighting the need for sensitive coastal management.
www.science.org
November 4, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
leafyhistory.bsky.social
The book is really interesting! From my history of nature perspective there's an account of the fishes caught at Scarborough 🎣, the herrings of Yarmouth ⛵(@projectfishistory.bsky.social), and a fun description of the lions of the Tower of London 🦁 (who were sent by the Emperor of Morocco of course)!
'The town is wall'd and moated round, except where it joins to the castle or the sea. The castle is of a vast extent, and stands on a lofty promontory, which runs far back into the sea. There are computed to be upwards of two hundred sail of ships belonging to this place, emplloy'd in different branches of trade; the fishery upon this coast being very considerable; particularly the herring, turbet, ling, cod-fish, haddock, fluke, whiting, mackrel, and lobsters, great quantities of which are sent every season to London'
October 13, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
stonefishweirs.bsky.social
Images of wood #fishweir wicker fence 2 meter tall on the shore #RhosonSea #ConwyCounty Borough, #Wales. Historical sources indicted used for seasonal fisheries for herring and mackerel late 19th century.
1/6
#maritimeheritage #oceandecadeheritage
#coastalhistory
“Big Mackerel Catch at Rhos” Postcard https://www.rhosfynach.co.uk/history.htm
October 2, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
georginahunt.bsky.social
It was great to present about our @projectfishistory.bsky.social research at #ICESASC25 and an honour to be on the shortlist for the best presentation! What a great week! @sosbangor.bsky.social @icesmarine.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
jangeerthiddink.bsky.social
We're using a very wide range of sources to patch together maps of where and when herring used to spawn.
September 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
jangeerthiddink.bsky.social
Great talk on using historical sources to map herring spawning grounds by @georginahunt.bsky.social for @projectfishistory.bsky.social.
September 16, 2025 at 12:55 PM
projectfishistory.bsky.social
Guess where we’ve been this week! Hint: you might see a dolphin or two here 🐬 #destinationx #huntforherring #fishfriday
September 5, 2025 at 10:52 AM
projectfishistory.bsky.social
Where are we today?📍Hint: it’s chucking it down! #herring #destinationx 🐟
September 3, 2025 at 1:46 PM
projectfishistory.bsky.social
We'll be visiting ports in Mid-South Wales e.g., Fishguard and Aberystwyth next week (2nd-4th September). If you're from the area and know anything about the Irish Sea herring fishery (past or present), or know someone who does, please get in touch here or at fishistory@bangor.ac.uk🐟
August 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
alecbmmoore.bsky.social
Beautiful scientific illustration in a Government fisheries report, 1884

-Electric ray caught off Scotland
-Herring measurements

@projectfishistory.bsky.social
August 20, 2025 at 9:21 AM
projectfishistory.bsky.social
HERRING & POTATOES 🐟🥔

Herrings and potatoes played a vital role in the annual prosperity of coastal communities such as the Isle of Man. In the 1800's unproductive fishing seasons and harvests left the poorest with no source of food and income.
Screenshot of newspaper article from 14/02/1828 in the Manks advertiser. "The failure of the herring fishery, and the great reduction in the value of agricultural produce, has affected every class in such a degree as to have reduced the island to almost a state of bankruptcy." Screenshot of newspaper article from 24/04/1827 in the Manks sun. "There was never perhaps, a more trying season for the poor, than that which the last winter presented, the severity of which yet exists and will continue till Divine Providence supplies the herring and the potatoe" Screenshot of newspaper article from 28/10/1826 in the Manks rising sun. "Distress in the isle of man- (Extract of a letter to a friend in Bath)- Douglas Sept 24- Our poor are in the most wretched state from the failure of the potatoe crops, and the utter unproductiveness of the herring fishery. Your friend Hughes is exerting himself, and, I trust will succeed in the laudable attempt he is making to rouse the gentry to ameliorate the miserable condition of the poor creatures who are at this moment suffering from disease and starvation. One poor woman nearly 80, he found yesterday on a bed of chips, without any covering but au old cloak, and the tiles actually commencing their work of destruction, for she was too feeble even to defend herself against so simple an enemy. .Another lie saw in a corner, with 4 naked children, without food. In short, be brings such accounts, as would open the hand of a miser, and draw the tear of compassion from the most harden'd heart. Soup is daily supplied to the poor ; but, alas ! these who have it in their power lo give are so few in this island compared with the vast numbers who are suffering the most absolute want, and the most abject misery, that without some pecuniary aid to assist us, our scanty supplies must soon cease."
July 29, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
nmbluk.bsky.social
Happy #SharkAndRayAwarenessDay 🦈 To celebrate these important ocean dwellers we've selected two illustrations from William Yarrell's 'History of British Fishes', Third Edition, 1859.

We have Torpedo marmorata, an electric ray and the smooth-hound, Mustelus mustelus
black and white illustration of the electric ray Torpedo marmorata. Dorsal view. common name on page is the old British torpedo balck and white ilustration of the smooth-hound Mustelus mustelus
July 14, 2025 at 8:15 AM
projectfishistory.bsky.social
Thanks to NWIFCA, we've gotten our hands on some fascinating early 1900s reports from the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee 📚These reports include notes on the timing and success of the herring fishery, the condition of herring, and a district map revealing historic herring grounds!
Passage from a book reads Herring- At Moelfre, the fishery was not good until December, when very good catches were made. At Benllach, large catches were also made in December. In Holyhead, the results were not up to those of last year. Herring have been plentiful at Nevin and Porthdinllaen, and in Tremadoc Bay. The value in this part of the District was £380, an increase of £211 over the corresponding period of the previous year. The herring were nearly all "shotten", but a good price was obtained for them. On the south side of Cardigan Bay, the herring season has last year been a failure. Passage from a book reads Herring - In Cardigan and Tremadoc Bays the herring season has been a total failure. When the Committee has more funds at its disposal an investigation should be conducted into the causes of the fluctuation of the herring fisheries. In Tremadoc Bay the fishermen are of opinion that large shoals of herring were in the Bay when the weather was too wild to allow of fishing. On the North Wales coast some very good catches were made at Holyhead, and at Moelfre larger catches were made than in 1909. Bookshelf containing Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee annual reports from early 1900s. Map of Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee zoomed in on the Llyn peninsula.
July 7, 2025 at 8:29 AM
projectfishistory.bsky.social
Had a great trip to NW England last week! One highlight was our visit to Fleetwood Maritime Museum ⚓⛵ where staff and volunteers picked out a few hidden gems for us — including Close’s 1904 fishing chart of the Irish Sea, marking historic herring fishing grounds! 🗺️
July 4, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
alecbmmoore.bsky.social
Great to be in the @britishlibrary.bsky.social earlier this week chasing sources on herring 🐟 for @projectfishistory.bsky.social @sosbangor.bsky.social

Thanks @leafyhistory.bsky.social for the cross-disciplinary training in using this incredible resource! @ukri.org
July 4, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
alecbmmoore.bsky.social
Newspaper archives for marine biology research

Amongst crossword puzzles & sports news are fragments of evidence we can piece together to understand change b4 scientific surveys started

Species, date, location, size-all data points for analysis

In this case, on marine megafauna we have lost
July 1, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
alecbmmoore.bsky.social
Fish folk - any idea what glassen is the old name for?

@projectfishistory.bsky.social @fishtwitcher.bsky.social @greenleejw.bsky.social
June 26, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
solwayfp.bsky.social
Herring Knowledge Wanted! Bangor University FisHistory Project is investigating the history of the Irish Sea herring fishery so if you know anything about herring read more at www.solwayfirthpartnership.c...
June 24, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
alecbmmoore.bsky.social
Online resources are great, but sometimes it is nice to be in an actual library looking at actual books for research

Marine biology using historical sources @projectfishistory.bsky.social
@sosbangor.bsky.social
@archpbu.bsky.social
@ystadaucymru.bsky.social @leafyhistory.bsky.social
June 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
projectfishistory.bsky.social
We’re visiting NW England next week (23–27 June) to talk to locals from historic herring ports 🐟 If you’re from the area and know anything about the Irish Sea herring fishery (past or present), or know someone who does, please get in touch here or at fishistory@bangor.ac.uk
June 19, 2025 at 12:43 PM
projectfishistory.bsky.social
Last week, we visited the Amgueddfa Forwrol Llyn Maritime Museum, which has an excellent exhibition on Nefyn herring 🐟, women of the sea 🙋‍♀️, and artefacts from other local fisheries 🦞. It’s a must-see if you’re in the area!
June 18, 2025 at 8:54 AM
projectfishistory.bsky.social
The earliest printed map specifically of Wales was Humphrey Llwyd’s 1573 Cambriae typus 🗺️

It contains an intriguing reference to fisheries in Cardigan Bay

“Hic halecum captura” – Here is the catch 🐟
Historical map of Welsh fisheries
June 13, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
alecbmmoore.bsky.social
For @projectfishistory.bsky.social we are using archives to help identify herring spawning habitat overlooked by modern surveys
June 9, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Reposted by Project FisHistory
alecbmmoore.bsky.social
" @icesmarine.bsky.social advises that no activities on spawning habitats should be allowed"

Depends on knowing the location of past/present/possible future spawning habitat-what @projectfishistory.bsky.social @sosbangor.bsky.social hopes to achieve

@ukri.org @oceanspast.bsky.social
June 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM