The museum
The idyllic island of Kvitsøy lies far out at sea between Haugesund and Stavanger. It is the smallest of Ryfylke's municipalities. The island is home to one of Ryfylkemuseet's finest museum sites, Kvitsøy Hummermuseum. It has exhibitions on lobster fishing, the fishing industry, and life on the island. The main exhibition deals with the story of lobsters, fishing lobsters and trading with them. Kvitsøy has long been known as a centre for lobster fishing, but local fishermen also fish for herrings, sardines and shrimp. The sea has always been of fundamental importance for the settlement of Kvitsøy. The museum follows this theme with an exhibition on the daily life of an island fisherman. The museum also displays buildings and furnishings from a traditional fisherman's home as well as an exhibition devoted to boats and motors. In addition, the museum can boast an extensive collection of equipment used in the fishing industry.
The fishing industry
Kvitsøy became well-known for its lobster fishing because of its lobster parks and lobster export. The Golden Age for this kind of fishing was in the years before 1960. At that time, Kvitsøy had numerous lobster parks, but these were shut down as catches lessened. There are still a few professional fishermen on the island who fish for lobster, but most do this as a hobby.
Getting to Kvitsøy
Kvitsøy is a small community with narrow roads and limited parking. If you can, leave your car on the mainland while visiting Kvitsøy. At the parking at the ferry terminal at Mekjarvik, there is plenty of capacity.
The island landscapes are fairly flat and therefore well suited for biking. There are also nice hiking opportunities on the islands. During the summer season, you can rent bikes at the ferry terminal at Kvitsøy. There is furthermore a bus that can take you all over the island.
