Fiskebanker

Fiskebanker is a term used in Nordic fisheries geography to describe underwater elevations on the continental shelf or upper slope that host high marine productivity and concentrate commercial fish stocks. They are formed by geological and oceanographic processes that create nutrient-rich upwelling and complex habitats, which in turn attract plankton, forage species, and larger fish. Because of their structure and currents, banks can act as feeding and aggregation sites for species such as cod, haddock, flatfish, and various pelagic groups, making them among the most productive fishing grounds in many seas.

Fiskebanker are typically located along the edge of shelves or on submerged ridges and banks, spanning distances that can range from tens to hundreds of kilometers. Their productivity can be seasonal and is influenced by weather patterns, water temperature, and recruitment cycles. The same features that make banks productive also make them ecologically sensitive; bottom trawling and other disruptive fishing gear can damage seabed habitats, alter species composition, and reduce stock productivity.

Management of fiskebanker hinges on mapping seabed features, stock assessments, and catch data to regulate fishing effort, protect vulnerable habitats, and designate protected areas when necessary. International cooperation is often required for banks that straddle jurisdictional boundaries. The term is used in Norwegian and other Nordic languages, and in English it is commonly rendered as “fishing banks” or “productive fishing grounds,” referring to similar submarine features that support high biomass and fisheries yields. Examples include major banks such as Dogger Bank in the North Sea and Georges Bank off North America.