Episode of the Sea is the result of a 2 year collaboration with the fishing community of the former island of Urk in the Netherlands. The film documents the fishermen’s world and their struggle with public perception, regulation and market, while parallels are traced between fishing and image making.
Gradually we discover that the fishermen have been caught up in a finely woven net of duties and restraints. It all started when the European Community introduced fishing rights. England had just lost the Cod Wars and its fishery had fallen prey to speculation. To stimulate their collapsing industry, the English were allowed to catch more, but this was at the expense of the others. The Urkers received lower quotas than could cover their costs. To stay afloat, they exceeded their share and stashed the forbidden portion of their catch in concealed places in the ship so as to unload it in an unguarded moment. ‘A tow for the judge’ became a new saying. The last tow of the week was for in case they got caught. But the fines became bigger and the number of inspectors increased. Often the fishermen saw no other option but to throw the extra fish overboard. Fodder for seagulls, even though it went against their grain. But then the Urkers got wise. If they bought an old English ship they could acquire the fishing rights with it, because England had larger quotas than its fishermen could meet. So they became Englishmen. By the time England caught on, more than half of its flatfish quotas were in Urkish hands. They also bought German ships, Danish ships and Belgian ships. Urk became a ‘Little Brussels’.
Gradually we discover that the fishermen have been caught up in a finely woven net of duties and restraints. It all started when the European Community introduced fishing rights. England had just lost the Cod Wars and its fishery had fallen prey to speculation. To stimulate their collapsing industry, the English were allowed to catch more, but this was at the expense of the others. The Urkers received lower quotas than could cover their costs. To stay afloat, they exceeded their share and stashed the forbidden portion of their catch in concealed places in the ship so as to unload it in an unguarded moment. ‘A tow for the judge’ became a new saying. The last tow of the week was for in case they got caught. But the fines became bigger and the number of inspectors increased. Often the fishermen saw no other option but to throw the extra fish overboard. Fodder for seagulls, even though it went against their grain. But then the Urkers got wise. If they bought an old English ship they could acquire the fishing rights with it, because England had larger quotas than its fishermen could meet. So they became Englishmen. By the time England caught on, more than half of its flatfish quotas were in Urkish hands. They also bought German ships, Danish ships and Belgian ships. Urk became a ‘Little Brussels’.
