ships from Bergen and later by Danish ships, as a port for Russian lodgers who bartered and traded along the coast, and as a haven for foreign ships from the White Sea that were shipping from Arkhangelsk, there was always a lot of life and stir." Like so many other places in Finnmark, Kjøllefjord's buildings were set ablaze by German soldiers in the fall of 1944, and the entire population of approximately 700 people were evacuated and scattered throughout the country. After the liberation in 1945, most residents came back. The rebuilding began, regulation plans were prepared and eventually the permanent building plans. In a very short time, the business community was rebuilt and nine relatively modern fisheries started up their business. The fishing fleet grew rapidly, and many skilled fishermen brought ashore an annual average of of fish in the years 1950, 1951, and 1952. This large haul included was pollock, were cod, of herring, and of other fish species. In 1954, the fishing fleet totaled 155 boats. Of these, 27 boats were between and there were ten boats over . The rest of the boats were under . Throughout history, fishing has been the nerve center for the community's activities, in good as well as bad times. After the war, 14 stores, two smaller hotels, and five cafes were built and the population increased up to 1,700 inhabitants. Attractions In recent years tourism has become an important part of Kjøllefjord's economy. Arctic Coast AS holds the primary responsibility for tourist information and excursions in and around Kjøllefjord. The company offers a snowmobile safari under the northern lights, guided bus tours and, in collaboration with Davvi Siida, excursions based on Sami culture and local history for tourists all year round. In the greater Kjøllefjord area, there are over of marked hiking trails, several of these originate from Kjøllefjord. Most of these trails are old trails where people walked between the settlements in the old days. There is a wonderful view of all the trails in the area, and it is easy to navigate. Areas west of the peninsula is very popular for hunting and fishing. Grouse is the most common prey, but people also hunt a lot of hares. The waters around Kjøllefjord you can find large Arctic char and trout populations. On 3 July 2013, a new world record for halibut caught on a fishing rod was set