taugaverkjum

taugaverkjum is a coastal settlement situated on the northern shore of the island of Sandøy in the Norwegian archipelago. The name derives from the Old Norse words *taug* meaning “small fish” and *verkjum* meaning “places of work,” reflecting the village’s origins as a modest fishing port. The community lies within the municipality of Austafjord, approximately 10 kilometres west of the larger town of Vik.

The earliest documented mention of taugaverkjum dates to the late 12th century, when it appears in a maritime charter as a small outpost supplying fish to nearby trading vessels. Throughout the Middle Ages the settlement remained sparse, with a permanent population of no more than twenty families. During the 18th and 19th centuries a brief period of expansion occurred, marked by the construction of a stone fish‑processing mill and a modest harbor. By the early 20th century however, emigration to the mainland and abroad reduced the number of residents to fewer than ten.

In contemporary times taugaverkjum is primarily a seasonal fishing village, with a small fleet of hand‑launched trawlers targeting herring and cod. The local economy is supplemented by small‑scale tourism; visitors are drawn by the unspoiled landscape, traditional wooden houses, and the annual spring fish festival that commemorates the village’s maritime heritage. Ecologically, the area is noted for its diverse coastal avifauna, including breeding populations of the Atlantic puffin and razorbill.

The settlement illustrates the resilience of small maritime communities in the Norwegian fjords, maintaining cultural continuity while adapting to modern economic realities.