Draft:Grisbåda question

Grisbåda question
Part of the Union crisis
Date 1897-1908 Location Grisbådarna, near Bohuslän Result International arbitration Gribådarna awarded to Sweden Minor territories awarded to Norway
Belligerents
Norway	Sweden
Casualties and losses
Several wounded	Several wounded

The Grisbåda question refers to the dispute over the waters of Grisbådarna. The dispute came to be as a result of the seizure of Bohuslän from Denmark-Norway to Sweden in 1658 which led to unclearity of where the sea border went. However, the issue would remain unsolved and unimportant until the 19th century due to the increase in fishing activity in the area. After the dissolution of the Swedish-Norwegian union in 1905 issue became more tense as the disputed border was no longer a domestic matter. The following negotiations would lead nowhere prompting the respective governments to appeal to the arbitration court in Haag. As the crayfish industry in grisbådarna was of much greater importance to the Swedes than the Norwegians, the territory was awarded to Sweden while Norway gained Sköttegrundet.

Background

As a result of the Dano-Swedish War (1657–1658), the Swedish empire would gain a great number of territories from Denmark-Norway, including Bohuslän. However, the incorporation of Bohuslän into the empire would be the cause of an undefined sea border between Denmark-Norway, and later Norway. Attempts were made to regulate the border in 1661 but without success. However, the question was not of importance as there was little of value in the area. Thus, the dispute persisted throughout both the 17th and 18th centuries.

Swedish-Norwegian union

The dispute over Grisbådarna became more heated during the 19th century as the respective countries' fishing industries expanded into the area. However, the dispute would remain unsolved throughout the entire century as the two countries were united in a personal union since 1814 making any unclear borders between the two ultimately unimportant. During the latter half of the 19th century, Norway would act more and more independently. This made the dispute a more serious matter and it was thus decided in 1897 that a commission of both Swedes and Norwegians would be made to finally settle the dispute.