Conservation and promotion of coastal cultural heritage is an important factor to sustain coastal identity and development of tourism. A large portion of traditional heritage keepers and activists have improved their infrastructure or exhibited new expositions with the help of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) through Local Development Strategies.
In the following article, “Jūras Zeme” has summarized keepers of coastal traditional heritage.
In the municipality of Carnikava, cultural heritage is being promoted and conserved by Carnikavas Local History Centre. The center allows tourists to acquaint themselves with the history of the region and also fishery traditions. Visitors can participate in several fishery-related programs, which include hearing fishermen stories, trying out tying fishing nets, and several other activities. A historically important activity is the program about lamprey, which is an educational program regarding the regional souvenir – Lamprey of Carnikava. A traditional annual event is happening to honor this regional souvenir and each year it attracts locals and visitors from other cities.
For more information about the Centre, please visit: Carnikavas Local History Centre
A virtual museum is being implemented in Saulkrasti, where anyone will be able to access the digitalized data of the history of Saulkrasti, which will provide information about the historical importance of fishery in this region. An important cultural heritage conservation activity is the organized event called “Eelpout Celebration”. The fishery of eelpout was traditional and usually associated with the coastal region of Vidzeme up until the 1980s, but due to the decreasing amount of eelpout population, this tradition was forgotten. The event’s purpose is to promote and keep the tradition alive, educating visitors on sustainable fishing and the coastal region’s history
For more information and news in Saulkrasti, please visit: Saulkrasti Municipality website
In the municipality of Salacgrīva a museum, which also operates as a History Center, allows visitors to educate themselves on the fishery traditions and cultural heritage of the region. In this coastal region, there is also The Museum of Ainazi Naval School, which has expositions on the coastal history throughout the times before and post Soviet Union occupation.
For more information on the Museum and Naval School, please visit: Salacgrīvas Museum and The Museum of Naval School
The Local Actions Groups “Jūras Zeme” and “Jūrkante” have collaborated on a project which is implemented in the municipalities of Carnikava, Saulkrasti, and Salacgrīva. During this project, a digital tool was made where experience stories and interviews of coastal fishermen will be gathered. This tool will compile not only stories but also 3D and interactive tourism objects that are crucial for maritime and fishery culture in this region, allowing users of this tool to easily navigate through the region and get to know the history and must-see places.
For more information, please visit the following website: Vidzemes Zvejnieks
In the municipality of Engure, after the reconstruction of the Museum of Lapmežciems, an exposition on fishery’s effect on regional development was displayed. The exposition is interactive and allows visitors to experience and learn about fishing methods and used tools for fishing in the past.
For more information, please visit the museum’s website: Lapmežciema Muzejs (available only in Latvian)
Jūrmala Open-Air Museum offers visitors to see a completely restored fishing ship and also an exposition on fishery and the territorial development of the coastal region.
For more information, please visit: Jurmala Open-Air Museum
In the previous premises of a school in Apšuciems, a renovated Fishery and Maritime Cultural Center was opened, which allows visitors to get know more about the fishery and the historical aspects of the coastal region.
For more information, please visit: Apšuciema Zvejas un jūras kultūras centra atklāšana (available only in Latvian)
In Mērsrags, a private museum called “Saieta Nams” operates and allows visitors to acquaint themselves with the history of life in Mērsrags and the region around it at the end of the 19th century.
For more information, please visit: Mērsraga “Saiet Nams” (information available only in Latvian)
In the museum of fishery in Roja visitors can get to know the influence of Krišjānis Valdemārs in the ship industry’s development, everyday life of sailors, fishery and fish processing, and the history of one of the richest Soviet time kolkhoz – “Banga”
For more information, please visit: Rojas Fishery Museum (information available only in Latvian)
In Kaltene, a branch of Roja’s Fishery Museum called “Kaltene Club” operates and allows visitors to see exposition on the fishery and maritime development in the coastal region of Kurzeme.
For more information, please visit: Kaltene Club
Seaside Open-Air Museum in Ventspils offers a rich exposition of more than 24 000 items and it shows the history of fishermen and local coastal residents.
For more information, please visit: Seaside Open-Air Museum in Ventspils
A Local History Museum in Pāvilosta allows every visitor to put on 3D glasses and try the role of a fisherman – creel lamprey in the River Saka, take a small fishing boat and fish for groundlings along the Baltic seashore, as well as board a larger Baltica-type fishing vessel and go further into the open sea to look for herring
For more information, please visit: Pāvilosta Local History Museum
If you find out that any of the coastal heritage keepers you know are missing or if there is any inconsistency, please don’t hesitate to contact us at juraszeme@gmail.com