vegaøyan world heritage
Hysvær
Hysvær is made up of a couple of hundred islands, a weather with an old settlement and mentioned in written sources as early as the 13th century as a place where down was collected. Today, there are six birdwatchers in Hysvær who collect down from around 160 eider ducks. After being wiped out by mink in the 1990s, a population of 130-140 eider ducks was built up, which was again reduced due to otter attacks. Since 2014, no eider ducks have been taken by otters and the population is now gradually increasing again.
Fourteen of the islands have been inhabited, usually with only one family on each island. There has been a shop, a fish reception, a post office and a steamship expedition. At most, around 120 people lived in Hysvær. The boarding school was located on Svinskjæret. Around 1930, it had 30 pupils. The children came here from Skjærvær and Hysvær. The boarding school was closed when school transport was introduced in 1954, while the school was closed in 1985.
The buildings are maintained and used by the birdwatchers or by the landowners as holiday homes. Large parts of the landscape are still managed through mowing and grazing.
Commercial activities
The inhabitants of Hysvær were fishermen farmers who practiced active agriculture with cows and sheep. From 1930, there was extensive grouse fishing in Hysvær. Eider ducks were an important supplementary industry. The landowners still preserve the dune tradition.
Today, the old school is owned by Gåkkå Mathus, which has built a café and a guesthouse in addition. The company offers catering and accommodation by prior arrangement. In 2008, Nordland County's cultural landscape award went to the operators, Snefrid Jakobsen and Øystein Ludvigsen, for their long-standing efforts to preserve the cultural landscape and the eider tradition. Svinskjæret in Hysvær is also home to the World Heritage Site, which was unveiled by Queen Sonja in 2005.
Vegetation
The vegetation in Hysvær largely consists of fairly poor heather moorland. On the inhabited islands and neighboring islands, the laying of seaweed has resulted in a more grass- and herb-rich vegetation that provides greater production for grazing and mowing. Today, these areas are important grazing areas for barnacle geese, which rest here for a short period in April and May on their way to their breeding grounds in Svalbard. The protected areas are also an important nesting, breeding and wintering area for seabirds.
Traffic in the area
Hysvær is part of the Hysvær/Søla landscape conservation area as a unique cultural and landscape conservation area. This means that animal and bird life, including nesting sites and breeding areas, are protected against damage and destruction. New animal species may not be introduced, and dogs must be kept on a leash.
Show consideration when moving in the landscape. Follow marked trails and respect privacy. Do not leave litter.
Want to know more?
Following this link will take you to a page with further recommended reading.
Source
"Vegaøyan World Heritage. Cultural history travel book." by Inga E. Næss and Rita Johansen.