“Útróður” - Coastal Fishing
One of the most recognizable words in the Faroese language is "útróður" which literally means rowing out for the purpose of fishing. In general, the word can conveniently be translated as "coastal fishing", which, unlike large-scale sea or ship fishing, takes place in decked or open boats.
A stable food source
Coastal fishing has since the times of settlement been crucial for the survival of the Faroese people. Agriculture was quite primitive, consisting primarily of sheep farming for the sake of meat, cattle for the sake of milk, and grain cultivation - which failed on average every three years and was later substituted by potato cultivation. Therefore, parallel to the agricultural activities, extensive coastal fishing was essential in order to provide sufficient food for the population. Fish was generally a stable food source, the Faroe Islands being surrounded by rich fishing banks where fisheries rarely failed.
Seasonal Fishing
Cod, and partly haddock, were the backbones of coastal fishing in the Faroes. So important were these species that seasonal fisheries were based on their seasonal movements and conditions. In the autumn, fish shoals were scattered and the fish was small which meant that the fishing boats acted accordingly. But in the "dry season", starting with the new moon in late January to the next new moon, the haddock comes towards the shore to spawn, and the fish is bigger and fatter. Dried fish has always been highly appreciated and this is the optimal season for fish drying. However, the biggest event has always been "várróður" - spring fishing - when the cod gathers in shoals to spawn on the fishing banks north of the Faroe Islands. These fishing baks were overexploited by British trawlers around the turn of the last century but later fishing improved. Várróður usually takes place from the end of February, during March and into April. The catch is usually large and fat - and the dense white flesh is firmer than in cod caught in other places.
From Handline to Long Line
Since ancient times, traditional Faroese boats have always been used for coastal fishing. This is still done to some extent, but most fishermen now use small fishing boats or decked boats. And nowadays, fishing is no longer just done for the sake of domestic consumption. "Úróður" is now a small part of the Faroese fishing industry. The principle is "one hook, one fish" – a sustainable small business without any waste or by-catches, which otherwise is a scourge on the world's fishery resources.
Even though seasonal changes still influence fisheries, the methods have somewhat changed. In the past, all fishing was done by handline, i.e. the fishing line was reeled in manually. Today, especially smaller boats use the so-called "snella" to fish with. This is a wheel-shaped jigging reel with a nylon line and a couple of fishing hooks. The decked boats engage mainly in line fishing, i.e. lines that are stretched between two buoys, with short fishing cords - preferably fitted with a couple of hundred hooks.
The Motifs of the Franking Labels
• The first of artist Suffía Nón's beautiful stamps depicts a coastal fisherman in the process of reeling in the line, harvesting the catch of the day.
• On the next, he is gutting the fish on board to the great delight of a multitude of seabirds which feed on its entrails.
• The third stamp depicts coastal fishing boats docked at quay, perhaps waiting for the big spring fishing.
• Finally, on the fourth stamp the line is being baited and subsequently coiled up in a “stampur” - a semi-barrel shaped container for prepared and baited fishing lines. The letters FD on the stamp indicate that Suffía is being inspired by what she has seen in the baiting sheds of her hometown of Fuglafjørður.
