The Vega Islands, furthest south in Nordland, consist of 6,500 islands, islets and reefs and are known for their rich downy weather tradition. Since 2004, the island kingdom on the Helgeland coast has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Much of the reason why they have been given the status is the eider that nests there every year. The eider is an endangered bird species, and needs seaweed and kelp to obtain food along the coast. That’s why there was a big uproar in the island community when a company wanted to cut seaweed on Hysvær, in the middle of the bird’s dinner and nesting season. – I requested the company to wait until after the protection period, 31 July. There are many people who work with eiders here, and it is very unfortunate that they have decided to engage in seaweed cutting now. It can ruin the whole season for those who deal with birds, says mayor André Møller in Vega municipality. This is Hysvær in Vega municipality. Vega has a great tradition of collecting eider down, and the municipality received world heritage status in 2004 to preserve both animals and cultural heritage. Photo: Helge Lyngmoe / news Now the company is turning around after the reactions. Noise and lack of food If the company had been allowed to continue the work, André Møller believes that it would have breached the safety regulations that apply at Vega. Section 3 of the conservation regulations states that it shall not change the nature and character of the landscape, in addition to that animal and bird life is protected against damage and destruction. Møller says that this would disturb the bird life both with noise and limit access to food. World heritage coordinator at Vega, Rita Johansen, is behind it. – Hysvær is protected to take care of a particularly valuable cultural landscape with eiders in the centre. There is a lot of seaweed there, and that is where the eider chicks go to find food. The unique cultural landscape with the eider tradition was the most important reason why Vegaøyan received world heritage status in 2004. Here from the downy weather Lånan. Photo: Scanpix She believes the intervention that Algea would do during the breeding season is illegal. – The conservation regulations make it prohibited to engage in activities that destroy wildlife. You can sell the rights to cut seaweed as a landowner, but not if it destroys wildlife in this vulnerable time. Respects the concern The seaweed that is collected is used, among other things, to make organic fertiliser. Jelle van Weert is the coordinator for Algea Harvest, and says that they checked the laws and regulations thoroughly before deciding to go. – We don’t break the regulations, we don’t. We have checked it thoroughly. The landowner has given us permission to cut seaweed. Van Weert says that there are several places on Vega where it is not allowed to remove plants. They believe this does not apply to Hysvær, even during the breeding season. Eagle owl house on Vega, at the Vega World Heritage Centre. Photo: Markus Thonhaugen / news But despite the fact that they themselves believe that they are in the clear, they choose to go their separate ways, to come back at a later time. – We respect the concern that has been expressed. We have not harvested there yet, and we are going to remove ourselves from there now. – Is it boring to leave right after you’ve arrived? – We are used to moving around, so it is not a big deal for us.
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Was going to cut seaweed in the world heritage site in Vega – turns around for a call from the mayor – news Nordland
