– Halibut! The answer is clear from the group of three friends from Southampton. They are just a short boat ride from the destination. The cap is on, the sun is reflected in the sunglasses, and the fishing equipment is fully rigged. Dale Munday, Joel Martin, and Jake Baddams get ready to go out to sea with skipper and guide. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news Dale Munday dreams of a fresh halibut, or halibut as it is called in English. Preferably cooked with butter. – It is very good to eat. That would be great, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed. Many fishing tourists who visit Norway rent a boat and go out to sea on their own. At the fishing camp that the British visit, it has been banned. Tourists with little boating experience – From this season we have decided to only run guided tours, says Marcus Åhlund of the company Explore the Arctic/Lauklines. In the past, the tourists have come, hired a boat, fished and gone home. Now they must have a skipper with them who also acts as a guide. – Many guests come who have very little experience with both boating, weather conditions and the area, says Åhlund. Marcus Åhlund believes it is unjustifiable to rent out boats to inexperienced tourists. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news What he tells is also among the findings in a comprehensive accident report from the National Accident Investigation Board. Every fourth person who died in accidents with recreational boats was a tourist who had rented a boat. The tourists who died had a lack of experience with boats, and weather and sea conditions, according to the report. The tourism company on Kvaløya no longer dares to take the chance of only renting out boats to tourists. – The Product Control Act states that you must not expose the guest to a risk he cannot handle. A fishing camp can become co-responsible, says Åhlund. The Brits get a safety demonstration before heading out on the fishing grounds. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news According to NHO reiseliv, guided fishing trips are a new trend in the industry. – We keep hearing about more and more people who want to go that way, says industry manager Dagny Øren. But she does not know if there are other companies that only run guided fishing trips. The big fish biting the echo sounder shows that it is getting shallower and shallower. In Kattfjorden, the skipper slows down. Joel Martin throws out the line. He says it is valuable to have a skipper and guide with you to find the best fishing spots. And for safety. Stanga bends first at his friend Jake Baddams. A cod is pulled into the boat, but it is too small and is released. – I hope we get someone bigger, want their grandparents, says Baddams. Cod has a minimum size of 44 centimeters in northern Norway. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news A few hours later, it’s napping at his friend Joel Martin’s. British Joel Martin with a sei off Kvaløya in Troms. Photo: Privat Two days later, the greatest wish comes true for the British. The halibut bites the hook. When they return home, they can legally take 18 kilos of fish with them, since they have been with a tourism operator who has registered with the authorities. Wants to prevent fish smuggling Every year customs officials stop fishing tourists who break the rules. So far this year, 3,178 kilograms of fish have been seized at the borders in Norway. Around 2,500 kilograms have been taken in the country’s northernmost county. Area manager in the Customs Agency, Tom Olsen notices one thing. – The vast majority have been at registered facilities. He believes the fittings are only the tip of the iceberg. The peak year was in 2017, when customs officials uncovered 11,298 kilograms that were attempted to be smuggled. Guide Marcus Åhlund and skipper Jakob Oliw ensure safety and that the fishing is carried out according to the rules. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news On Kvaløya, Åhlund believes that the tourism companies must be given greater responsibility for how much the tourists fish and take home. Skipper and guide are the solution, according to him. – We have total control over what is taken up by fish, and how the raw materials are utilised. And we are with the guests and fillet the fish they want, he assures.
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Fishing tourists are refused to borrow a boat without a skipper and guide – news Troms and Finnmark
