– The odds of getting such a quota as a man are vanishingly small, while if you’re a woman it’s almost bad luck if you don’t get one, says fisherman Sander Arntsen Gregersen (21). Every winter, young fishermen cross their fingers. They hope to be one of the lucky ones when the Directorate of Fisheries selects six people who will each receive their own recruitment quota. If they win the “lottery”, the lucky ones are allowed to fish around 29 tonnes of cod without paying a single kroner for the quota. The purpose is to help young fishermen enter the profession. A normal cod quota is sold for several million kroner. Equal for women and men After a new arrangement for the recruitment quotas was established in 2022, the quotas have been distributed equally between the sexes: Three for men and three for women. In this way, the government believes that they are making arrangements for young fishermen of both sexes to have equal opportunities to use the scheme. But not all fishermen agree. In a Facebook post, the criteria are hotly debated. – An arrangement that discriminates against men, if you ask me, writes an anonymous participant in the discussion in the Facebook group Fiskerinytt. The young fisherman Sander Arntsen Gregersen (21) from Bodø largely agrees with the reactions. He has his own boat and fishes in an open group. This winter he was troubled with the boat during the Lofoten fishery, so he has had to work on other boats throughout the year to make ends meet. He has not yet applied for a recruitment quota. Last year he was not eligible. This year there were five women and 44 men who fulfilled the conditions to be included in the draw for the recruitment quota. This means that the women had a far greater chance of being selected, while the male fishermen had a very small chance of getting such a “gift package”. Sander Arntsen Gregersen believes that society in general has an attitude that women should be able to do the same as men. Photo: Private – It is very unfair that the six recruitment quotas should be distributed equally between the sexes. When you look at how large a proportion of the industry is made up of men and how small a proportion is made up of women. The 21-year-old believes that the recruitment quotas are important to bring in more money. You get a greater basis for drawing wages, and you get more leeway to buy a bigger boat. – I understand the point of getting more girls into the industry, but I don’t think treating girls differently is the way to go. It only creates confusion, and certain grumpy old men get it right that women get benefits. The Fishermen’s Association: – Understands the frustration Kåre Heggebø, who is the leader of Norway’s Fishermen’s Association, does not disagree with the young fisherman from Bodø. – Statistically speaking, it is correct that young men are given lower priority. But this is a political instrument that the authorities have chosen to use to try to recruit more young women into the industry. So it is probably the right choice. – We have a strong desire to get more women into the industry. Although it may appear unreasonable for all the young men and boys who had wanted to have such an opportunity, says Kåre Heggebø of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association. Photo: Jan-Erik Indrestrand / Norwegian Fishermen’s Association He says he understands the frustration of those who feel they are losing out because of their gender. Heggebø reminds that a recruitment quota is not something you get forever, but a time-limited benefit you get to try to establish yourself in the industry. – But the quotas are sought after because you get the opportunity to fish more than in a normal quota in an open group. Thinks the scheme too narrow Shark fisherman Sisilie Skagen Johnsen is one of the fishermen who secured a recruitment quota this year. This allowed her to fish ten tonnes more than she would have done without the extra quota. These were allocated a recruitment quota Ingerline Henriksen, Vadsø. Joanna Aniela Thesen, Måsøy Sisilie Skagen Johnsen, Vestvågøy Ole Nesse, Bømlo Jan Olav Kaaløy, Lindesnes Anders Isak Nedrejord, Karasjok When she got the recruitment quota, she told news that she drew the golden odds. At the same time, she believes that the scheme will be too narrow and will not necessarily lead to increased recruitment. – If the scheme is to be used to recruit new fishermen, there should be requirements for education and year-round operation. You may also not be able to build yourself up during this period. You do not have the option of buying a quota or another boat to get a better operating basis. Then you lose the recruitment quota. Sisilie Skagen Johnsen skippers her own boat. She got a recruitment quota this year. Photo: Privat Wants to equalize with the times Gregersen, who is also leader of the Progress Party’s Youth in Bodø, believes that society in general has an attitude that women should be able to do the same as men. – As long as you do the same job and have the same opportunities, there is nothing to prevent women from participating in the industry, he says. Frp: Gender must not be decisive Storting representative for the Progressive Party in Nordland, Dagfinn Olsen, applauds the desire for more women into the fishery, but is not a supporter of the method of gender quotas. – I think it is wrong to operate gender quotas in this way. The premises that otherwise apply to obtaining a recruitment quota must be the basis, and not gender. – Isn’t this a measure to lower the threshold for women in the fisheries? – No I do not think so. I myself am a state pilot by profession, and some years ago we got the first women into the profession. They came in because they wanted in, not because they were quotated. Storting representative Dagfinn Olsen Photo: Ola Helness / news Olsen points out that instead of quotas, arrangements should be made so that women, and especially women with children, can participate in the fishing profession. – It must be entirely possible to have a family life while being a fisherman. Then you have to have a family policy that makes it possible for women to be skippers of their own ships or crew on a boat, he says and adds: – But to quota them in, because they are women, the FRP believes it would be wrong. There must be general criteria here, and I understand very well that there are men who feel they have the wrong gender.
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Recruitment quota was supposed to contribute to gender balance, but is causing anger – news Nordland
