When I visited Norway in 2019, I heard that centuries ago, Norwegian ships traveling to Nigeria used fish heads as ballast. In Africa they discovered that the heads could be ground up to a powder and added as a protein supplement to the cereals eaten locally. That was a huge success and continues to this day, under different circumstances.
Why were Norwegian ships sailing to Africa centuries ago? To carry slaves to the Caribbean.
Domestically, Norway had no association with the slave trade, so it was interesting to hear this connection.
While we're on the subject, modern-day ballast consists of seawater, pumped into holding tanks aboard ships and later dumped into whatever port becomes that ship's destination. In this way, many invasive marine species (including the nefarious European green crab) have been unintentionally introduced into Washington's marine ecosystems, with fairly significant harmful results.
When I visited Norway in 2019, I heard that centuries ago, Norwegian ships traveling to Nigeria used fish heads as ballast. In Africa they discovered that the heads could be ground up to a powder and added as a protein supplement to the cereals eaten locally. That was a huge success and continues to this day, under different circumstances.
Why were Norwegian ships sailing to Africa centuries ago? To carry slaves to the Caribbean.
Domestically, Norway had no association with the slave trade, so it was interesting to hear this connection.
I never thought about ballast from old ships as being interesting.
(Well, I never really thought about it at all…)
I stand corrected. Great stuff. Thanks!
Once again, you Street Smarty-pants Naturalist, you have made me late for work as I sit reading with another cup of coffee!
While we're on the subject, modern-day ballast consists of seawater, pumped into holding tanks aboard ships and later dumped into whatever port becomes that ship's destination. In this way, many invasive marine species (including the nefarious European green crab) have been unintentionally introduced into Washington's marine ecosystems, with fairly significant harmful results.