– My dream has come true. It feels unreal and very nice. That’s what Emma Forsberg says, who recently bought the sharke “Milo”. This summer, she was refused to join the fishermen, and with that the dream was put on hold. The refusal came because she is taking the fisheries line natural farming at high school. The Directorate of Fisheries believed that what she learned on the nature management course was not useful on board a boat, as were other educations such as machinist, cook and nautical. One week after news reported on the case, the directorate turned around, and then Emma could join the number of fishermen. Emma’s first trip with “Milo” took her from Tromsø home to Kamøyvær, in Finnmark. The trip was boring, according to her, since they traveled for a day straight home. Photo: Anita Forsberg Fighting to change the rules The 16-year-old from the small fishing village of Kamøyvær, in Nordkapp municipality, and the family had to resort to a lawyer to overturn the decision that came this summer. – It has been a demanding period. We have had to find solutions and write complaints, so it has been all together lately. Dad Kjell-Vidar Forsberg is satisfied that his daughter can now fish from her own boat. – It has been a long journey for Emma to become a fisherman. Now that she has become one, it is incredibly funny that she is so excited. But he sees that the challenges they have been through can quickly become someone else’s. – There must be a change. Although Emma was able to change her decision, we do not know if that will happen to the next person who applies. Emma doesn’t think she’s the last one to go natural farming, or other lines, and want to fish. Therefore, she wants to change the rules so that others do not have to go through what she has done. – It should be the same for everyone. Going to school cannot be an obstacle to entering the fishing workforce. You should be able to take the education you want and also be able to fish, says Emma. It was a big moment for dad Kjell-Vidar when Emma Forsberg took over the boat “Milo”. Now he will give her the training she needs, so that he can sit at home in the good chair and watch his daughter go out to sea. Photo: Hanne Bernhardsen Nordvåg / news The fishing profession in constant development Alice Helleberg is a fisherman and chairman of the interest organization Hun Fisker. She has followed Emma’s case for a long time. – I am not surprised that she has bought herself a sjark. It’s great that she’s betting. In the wake of the case, Helleberg thinks it’s crazy that so many others in the same situation are knocking on the door and want to enter the industry, but the door is still kept closed. Alice Helleberg is a manager at Hun Fisker. The organization wants to promote women’s interests and rights at sea, give women visible role models in the profession, and contribute to increasing women’s experiences and skills. Photo: Alice Roseth Helleberg / Hun Fisker With the 16-year-old from Kamøyvær as an example, the whole process is terribly messy, according to Helleberg. When Emma applied for the first time, she was turned down because she was studying specialist studies. She was advised by the Directorate of Fisheries to change to “nature use”, because then it would resolve itself. It didn’t. – In the first place, she should not have received a refusal. Helleberg points out that computer and technical knowledge of things that have nothing to do with fishing is becoming more and more important in the profession. When the directorate advertises positions, applicants must have a minimum bachelor’s degree and preferably a master’s degree. Therefore, she believes that lines of study specialization can be relevant as a fisherman. – I see that there is no direct connection to fisheries, but there should be an opportunity to make an individual assessment of each application. Emma Forsberg has been to the sea already and has been fishing on a youth quota since she was 12 years old. Photo: Kjell-Vidar Forsberg – The regulations must be made more clear Hun Fisker has been clear to the directorate that they want the rules to be changed. Already last year they submitted a letter to the directorate, after Emma Forsberg received the first refusal. – Now political goodwill is needed before this can be changed, she says. Helleberg wants to bring other organizations together so that they can work together to promote the wishes for change. – I want to see this through. The regulations must be made clearer and more equal. So that those who want to enter the industry have the opportunity to do so. – That is what helps with recruitment, she believes. The Ministry of Industry and Fisheries has sent the Directorate of Fisheries an order for a review of the regulations on the number of fishermen. There, the directorate is asked to discuss the conditions that should be set for students and school pupils to be included in the number of fishermen. The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries writes in an e-mail that they want to prepare a consultation document where all stakeholders, including Hun Fisker, will be given the opportunity to respond. Emma Forsberg has used all her savings to cover the deductible for the sjark purchase. With help from her parents, she is a proud sjark owner. Photo: Kjell-Vidar Forsberg Spending his free time at sea Now much of the young fisherman’s time is spent fishing. She is exempt from several subjects at school and will spend much of her free time at sea. – On the days I start late or finish early, I am at sea. Either at night or when I finish school. With a bright future in sight, the young girl hopes for good fishing. – When I have time off from school or at weekends, I will be at sea. So it’s going to go in one.
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Now she has bought a stake – news Troms and Finnmark
