Cohabiting couple Turid Andresen and Bent-André Andersen despaired over several hundred meters of plastic pipes that had washed ashore on their property on Sørøya in Finnmark. They got nowhere when they raised the problem with Hasvik municipality four years ago. This summer, they wrote another letter to the municipality and the state administrator, hoping for progress. And speed it was. news discussed the letter on Wednesday last week. The same day, the breeding company Cermaq called the cabin owners and said they would clean up. But the competitor was faster: On Friday, Norwegian Royal Salmon reported to the Directorate of Fisheries that three men had moved out and completed the job. The cabin owners estimated that around 600 meters of such pipes had drifted ashore on their property. Photo: Bent André Andersen – Never says no The aquaculture industry often gets its hat in environmental matters – such as when there is twice as much escaped farmed salmon as last year, or when they dump lice poison into the sea. But when it comes to littering, there are good words to be had. The Directorate of Fisheries says the breeders are quick to move out to collect equipment that has gone astray. – I have never received a refusal from a breeder when I have been in contact with them, says senior advisor Silje-Kristin Jensen. The Directorate has been working with littering in the sea for many years, but since 2018 they have gone out more actively and asked for tips. – We have sent out a letter every year stating that we want tips, either via our websites or directly by e-mail. From Troms and Finnmark, we have received around 40 to 50 tips about marine waste from the aquaculture industry, says Jensen. The letter also goes to the municipalities. This means that Hasvik municipality, which could not assist Andersen and Andresen with the waste on their cottage plot, should have received the letter. – Are you surprised that the municipality has not notified the directorate about the feed hoses on the cottage site in Breivikbotn? – I do not want to criticize either the municipalities or others. It may be that they do not have the resources or expertise. But we have tried to promote in recent years that we help, says Jensen. The municipality has not had the opportunity to comment on the matter to news during the holidays. “Everyone” tips Many people have received the call to tip the regional offices to the directorate. – Both hiking teams, the Norwegian Nature Conservancy, paddlers and all kinds of people and animals have sent us tips. Most of it comes from Finnmark, and some from Troms. Jensen explains that the directorate keeps track of the tips and follows up, but the actual work is done by the breeders. – We have contacted the nearest builder and asked if they have the opportunity to clean up. Some equipment has been lying on land, far inside private property, and it has not been possible to take it. But what lies down in the spring zone, they have always had the will to take in, says Jensen. She says it works best if people don’t call the companies directly, but rather to the directorate, which keeps track of the cases and follows up if they should be forgotten. – There may be several tips in the same area. Then we can coordinate. So use us, encourages Jensen. Such a buoy is worth tens of thousands, so the breeders have a lot to save by hooking them back in. Photo: Bo Eide Used again The breeders have a great vested interest in clearing. Not only is it good for the industry’s reputation. Much of the equipment floating around in the sea can be retrieved and used further. – There are often large values. A large breeding buoy is worth several tens of thousands of kroner, says Jensen. Waste that does not originate from the farming industry is also taken care of, including via the Keep Norway Clean campaign and the online Rydde portalen. They have also created an app where people can report littering. Landowners’ responsibility Without goodwill from the farming industry and actions such as Keep Norway Clean, landowners along the coast may be left powerless against waste that drifts in from the sea. – In principle, the landowner is responsible for stray waste, says Einar Bratteng. He is a lawyer, textbook author and expert on waste law. – You can always discuss the reasonableness of it, but that’s how the rules are, and they are reasonably clear. Norwegian courts have several times decided that landowners must clean up their own property, even though it is obvious that they have not dumped the waste themselves, says Bratteng. Lawyer Einar Bratteng says that a landowner does not have much to stand up to on his own against someone who litters the property. The municipality can, however, issue an order to clean up. Photo: Advokatfirmaet Berngaard Littering at tourist facilities and along roads is specifically mentioned in the Pollution Act. The municipalities and the Swedish Road Administration have a responsibility there. – Waste that drifts in from the sea is a relatively new problem. There are no special rules as of today. Then you have to go back to the main rule that you shouldn’t litter, and then it is the owner of the property where the rubbish is, who becomes responsible, says Bratteng. If it is clear who has caused the littering, the municipality can give the culprit an order to clean up. If the municipality does not want to issue such an order, the landowner can complain to the state administrator. If he does not win there, but has to clean up himself, the last resort is to go to a compensation claim against the litterer to have the costs covered.
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Report waste, says the Directorate of Fisheries – salmon farmers clean up – news Troms and Finnmark
