While today Styrsö is a haven of wellness and tranquility, its past is rooted in a much more industrious and salty enterprise: the herring fishing boom of the 18th and 19th centuries. Glimpses of this prosperous era, when “herring barons” made their fortunes, can still be found on the island.
During peak periods, the waters of the Bohuslän coast, including the Gothenburg archipelago, were teeming with herring. This “silver of the sea” brought immense wealth to the region. Fishing fleets were vast, and processing industries like salting, smoking, and oil production flourished on the islands.
The most tangible legacy of this era on Styrsö can be found at Café Öbergska. This historic building was once an inn and a hub of commerce, owned and frequented by the wealthy merchants and captains who profited from the herring trade. Sitting here with a coffee, you can almost imagine the deals being struck and the stories being told by these “herring barons.”
The wealth from this period also influenced the island’s architecture. Many of the beautiful, well-constructed wooden houses you see today were built by families who had a connection to the fishing industry. The prosperity of the herring boom allowed for the development of the island’s charming residential character.
While the great herring booms have long since passed, their legacy remains. It adds a fascinating layer of history to the island, a reminder that beneath its calm, restorative surface lies a rich and industrious past built on the bounty of the sea.