The case in summary: The Oslo Fjord is in an ecological crisis, and the Directorate of Fisheries has proposed three options for regulating fishing over the next ten years. The alternatives include continuing with the current regulations, tightening further for professional and recreational fishermen, or introducing three large zero fishing areas. The Oslo Fjord’s Outdoor Council supports the alternative which involves a total stop to fishing in large parts of the Oslo Fjord. The zero-fishing areas will have consequences for both recreational and professional fishermen, but are considered necessary given the current state of the fjord. The environmental movement believes that the proposal for zero fishing areas is a step in the right direction, and that it is important that the ministry makes the right decisions and listens to the scientists. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. The Oslo Fjord is in crisis, and scientists have warned against a possible ecological collapse. The Directorate of Fisheries has now set up three options for how fishing in the Oslo Fjord can be regulated over the next ten years: Continue with the current regulations. Tighten up further for professional and recreational fishermen. Introduce three large zero-fishing areas where neither commercial fishing nor recreational fishing will be allowed. The Oslo Fjord’s Outdoor Council supports the alternative which involves a total stop to fishing in large parts of the Oslo Fjord. This is how the area looks in the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries’ map solution: Færder and Ytre Hvaler National Park, as well as the inner Oslofjord north of Moss/Horten, are proposed as zero fishing areas. Graphics: Directorate of Fisheries Three alternatives for the Oslofjord Alternative 1: Continue with current rules from 2019 Ban on fishing in spawning grounds for cod from 1 January to 30 April. Ban on bottom nets and cod fishing within the baseline from Telemark to the Swedish border. Possibility of exemption for a smaller group of vessels. Alternative 2: Increased species selectivity and restrictions Ban on commercial fishing with non-selective gear such as nets and lines. Requirements for selective devices such as sorting grids in trawl fishing. Restriction of recreational fishing to hand-held gear and stricter regulation of fishing lines. Alternative 3: Zero-fishing areas Creation of three larger zero-fishing areas where all fishing is stopped: Inner part of the Oslofjord (within a line between Horten and Moss), Færder National Park and Ytre Hvaler National Park. Halt in sprat fishing throughout the fjord. On 21 June, the Ministry of Fisheries received the input from the Fisheries Directorate. Ten years without fishing If zero-fishing areas are introduced, it means an abrupt stop to all fishing in the Inner Oslofjord and the national parks Færder and Ytre Hvaler national park – from trawling to the hobby fisherman standing with a fishing rod on the reef. Espen Søilen, director of the Oslo Fjords Outdoor Council, is himself an avid recreational fisherman. – But it has been a long time since I have fished in the Oslo Fjord. Photo: Oslofjorden Friluftsråd – This will have consequences for both recreational fishermen and professional fishermen. But it is absolutely necessary to implement now in the state the Oslofjord is in, Espen Søilen believes. He is director of the Oslo Fjords Outdoor Council. The measures are intended to apply for ten years. – Will there be any fishermen left in ten years? – It is of course a good question. But if we continue as we are today, it is not certain that there will be anything more to fish for in ten years. So here you have to make some difficult choices, says Espen Søilen. Recreational fishermen must stay away from the national park areas and inner Oslofjord if there will be zero fishing areas in the next ten years. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB – An exciting project Fredrik Myhre is a marine biologist and senior advisor for sustainable oceans at the World Wide Fund for Nature. He interprets the response from the Directorate of Fisheries as that they recommend a fishing ban. – It would have been an exciting project and measures that the researchers have said they need to put in place for life in the Oslo Fjord. He says that they know what measures are needed to bring life back to the Oslo Fjord, and then it is important that the ministry makes the right decisions and listens to the researchers. – And in this case, looking at the possibilities of introducing a zero-fishing area in the Oslofjord, says Myhre. Fredrik Myhre is a marine biologist and works at the World Wide Fund for Nature. He thinks this is an exciting proposal. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news Happy environmental movement The environmental movement believes this is a step in the right direction. – I can’t quite understand why they bothered to outline the other two options, says Truls Gulowsen of the Norwegian Nature Conservation Association. He believes that alternatives one and two are only variants of the current situation. Truls Gulowsen is head of the Norwegian Nature Conservancy. Photo: Henning Rønhovde He is very satisfied with alternative number three. This is about a complete stop to fishing, both for hobby and professional fishermen. – We are satisfied that the Directorate of Fisheries is now giving clear professional advice that we must introduce large zero-fishing areas and strong restrictions on both recreational and professional fishing in the Oslofjord, because the fjord is in crisis. With zero fishing areas in Indre Oslofjord and Ytre Hvaler National Park, professional fishermen are hit hard. The picture is from the fish reception in Utgårdskilen on Hvaler. Photo: Christian Nygaard-Monsen/news – Things are slow For recreational fishermen, there can be large areas where you now have to haul in the line. – It will hurt when we have to save the Oslofjord. The alternative is just so much worse: A fjord that is not alive, says Søilen. He believes that anyone who travels around the Oslofjord has already seen the traces: shabby and brown water after the downpours. Why are new measures being considered in the Oslofjord? The Oslo Fjord’s ecosystem is out of balance, affected by the release of nutrient salts, climate change and fishing. On 21 June, the Ministry of Fisheries received new professional advice from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries on measures for fishing in the Oslo Fjord. If the regulations are to work, something must be done at the same time about the other factors that affect the Oslo Fjord. This applies, among other things, to emissions of nitrogen from waste water, industry and agriculture. Source: Directorate of Fisheries, Professional advice on new measures in fisheries in the Oslofjord. The Oslo Fjord’s Outdoor Council points out that the politicians must now follow up on the professional advice that has come from the Directorate of Fisheries. – We hope that both the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Climate and Environment follow up on this. The work to save the fjord is progressing slowly, but we need these measures now. The Ministry of Fisheries has received the input from the Directorate of Fisheries. news has been in contact with the Directorate of Fisheries about these proposals in the consultation report. They currently do not wish to comment on the case. Published 29.06.2024, at 11.14 Updated 29.06.2024, at 11.18
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Proposes fishing ban in the Oslofjord – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
