The Cod Wars ( , `` the cod wars '' , or `` Landhelgisstríðin '' , `` the wars for the territorial waters '' ) were a series of confrontations Violence between the United Kingdom and Iceland on fishing rights in the North Atlantic .

The Third Cod War Hostile_encounter concluded Process_end in 1976 , with a highly favourable agreement Sign_agreement for Iceland ; the United Kingdom conceded Agree_or_refuse_to_act to a Icelandic exclusive fishery zone after threats Warning that Iceland would withdraw Escaping from NATO , which would have forfeited Preventing_or_letting NATO 's access to most of the GIUK gap , a critical anti-submarine warfare Hostile_encounter during the Cold War .

None of the Cod Wars met any of the common thresholds for a conventional war , and they may more accurately be described as militarised interstate disputes Quarreling .

There is only one confirmed death Death during the Cod Wars : an Icelandic engineer , who was accidentally killed Killing in the Second Cod War Hostile_encounter while he was repairing Self_motion damage on the Icelandic gunboat `` Ægir '' after a collision Hostile_encounter with the British frigate `` Apollo '' .

There is only one confirmed death Death during the Cod Wars : an Icelandic engineer , who was accidentally killed Killing in the Second Cod War Hostile_encounter while he was repairing Self_motion damage on the Icelandic gunboat `` Ægir '' after a collision Hostile_encounter with the British frigate `` Apollo '' .

Several explanations for the Cod Wars have been put forward .

Lessons drawn from the Cod Wars have been applied Using to international relations theory .