Norwegian fishermen’s everyday life has changed after the UK withdrew from the EU two years ago. Before, they could follow the fish over to the British zone and catch it there. This will change after “Brexit”. Now Norwegian boats are no longer allowed to fish in the British zone. This has led to a tough situation for Norwegian fishermen: – It is a demanding situation, says Ole Morten Madsen, fisherman on the seine boat “MS Fiskebas”. Mackerel fishing usually starts in mid-September. This year, the fishermen in Florø already started in July. Hard to get to port Norwegian fishermen are without a mackerel agreement and without access to British waters. When the negotiations broke down in April last year, the fishermen feared a “race”. Now the fear has become a reality. Facts about Brexit Brexit is the name given to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU after 47 years of membership. After a referendum in 2016, the British left the EU on 31 January 2020, with a transition period until 2020. On 1 January 2021, the transition period was over and the British were fully out of both the EU and the EEA. The UK is in practice the first member state to leave the EU. Three territories have previously left the European Community: Algeria (1962, when the country became independent from France), Greenland (1985) and French St. Barthélemy (2012). – There will be more searching for the mackerel, and once we find it, there will be more of a fight to get it up, says Madsen. The consequence is that several fishing boats gather in the same place, and in the autumn two boats push into each other, he says. Norwegian fishermen hope to get an agreement in place that can ease the tense situation they are in. Fishing for mackerel in particular, but also herring, is problematic. Photo: MS Fiskebas His brother Geir Magne Madsen is skipper on board the same fishing boat as himself. He thinks the boat collision says something about the situation out at sea: – Everyone has to go out at the same time and lie in a “ball” and search. Then it will be crowded, he says to Fjordenes Tidende. The fishing boat arrived in port with this year’s quota, but the Madsen brothers describe a psychological pressure to reach the finish line. Since the fishermen have to go out earlier to catch the mackerel, the quality of the fish is not as good as it could have been. This in turn affects the price they receive for the item. Before, the mackerel fishing was gone in three weeks, now it takes two months. This means that the cost of fuel has tripled. This means that the berekraftig stamp the mackerel previously had has been taken away. This also affects the saddle. I think it will take several years to reach an agreement. The situation described by the fishermen at “MS Fiskebas” is well known. This is according to Audun Maråk, managing director of Fiskebåt, an interest organization for the sea fishing fleet. – It has become tougher to fish for mackerel. There are large values involved, so it is difficult for the fishermen, says Maråk. He also knows that fishing boats in the mackerel fishery have collided, but not with serious damage. Mackerel fishing is the main challenge, but the parties have not agreed on North Sea herring either. Before, it was easier for Norwegian fishing boats to fish in the British zone. Norwegian authorities are working to get back the flexibility Norwegian fishermen used to have. British fishermen could then be in Norwegian waters and vice versa. But getting this agreement back is complicated, says Maråk. – It can take several years. It will be exciting to see how far we get, but I envision a solution for 2024, he says. – Not optimistic Norway and Great Britain entered into a “historic fisheries agreement” a year ago. It means that countries can fish a limited amount of herring and other “bottom fish” across the border with the other. On Friday, the parties will sign a new agreement that involves mutual fishing of demersal fish and North Sea herring from 2023. The Ministry of Trade and Fisheries is working hard to reach an agreement, says State Secretary Vidar Ulriksen. But first two main questions must be resolved: How big a share should each coastal state have, and where can this be fished. – The agreements must be balanced so that all parties’ interests are taken care of. In all negotiations it is about give and take. We must also be offered that, says Ulriksen. He cannot say when they will come up with a solution. On 5 and 6 December, the coastal authorities will meet in London. Pelagisk Forening does not believe that the parties will reach an agreement any time soon. – Good quota agreements with coastal states with which we share the fish stocks, and national regulations, are important to keep CO₂ emissions down, says Mariann Frantsen, day-to-day manager of the Pelagisk Forening. Photo: Roar Bjånesøy – We hope for that, even if we are not particularly optimistic, says Mariann Frantsen, day-to-day manager of the Pelagic Association. The Fishermen’s Association also hopes to get clarifications in place about quota issues and zone access. – These are important clarifications for Norwegian fishermen, says Jan-Erik Indrestrand, head of information at the Fiskarlaget.
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Cape fishing and chaos – but landing a fishing agreement can take several years – news Vestland
