Fish Markets - History and Development

History and Development

There is a long history of fish markets from the time of ancient Greece. They served as a public space where large numbers of people could gather and discuss current events and local politics.

Because seafood is quick to spoil, fish markets are historically most often found in seaside towns. Once ice or other simple cooling methods became available, some were also established in large inland cities that had good trade routes to the coast.

Since refrigeration and rapid transport became available in the 19th and 20th century, fish markets can technically be established at any place. However, because modern trade logistics in general has shifted away from marketplaces and towards retail outlets, such as supermarkets, most seafood worldwide is now sold to consumers through these venues, like most other foodstuffs.

Consequently, most major fish markets now mainly deal with wholesale trade, and the existing major fish retail markets continue to operate as much for traditional reasons as for commercial ones. Both types of fish markets are often tourist attractions as well.

• Dutch fish market (Joachim Beuckelaer ca. 1533–1575)

• Dutch fish market (Jan Brueghel the Elder 1568–1625)

• Family of the painter at the fish market (Jan Brueghel the Elder 1568–1625)

• German fish market, c. 1615

• Dutch fish market, 1683 (Cornelis Dusart)

• Billingsgate fish market, c. 1810

• French fish market, 1833 (François-Antoine Bossuet)

• Fish market in Rome (Albert Bierstadt 1830–1902)

• Frankfurt fish market, 1860 (Peter Becker 1828–1904)

• Wives of the fishermen selling fish in Copenhagen, 1932