– In one case, the employees tried to evade control by hiding from our people. It’s a bad sign. The head of the workplace crime center (A-crime center) in Troms and Finnmark, Magnus Nilsen, says that there have been large seizures of, among other things, cod fillets at the border recently. The Norwegian Customs Service has reported extensive fish smuggling out of Norway. So far this year, they have seized almost 7.6 tonnes of fish. Around five tonnes have been seized in Troms and Finnmark alone. In comparison, 5.8 tonnes were seized throughout the country last year. – Illegal fishing tourism is a big problem, says Nilsen. The A crime center works to uncover crime in working life. In May, they inspected 20 companies that operate fishing tourism in Western Finnmark. During the inspection, many violations of the law were uncovered. Organized crime According to Nilsen, the industry consists of many small players, a significant proportion of which are foreign, both on the ownership side and among the employees. – It is profitable to fish for free in Norway, and then sell the fish on abroad. There are very high prices for cod, he says. He cannot comment on how many companies have been targeted as the cases are still being worked on. However, Nilsen says that several findings indicate organized crime. – In some cases, the Customs Service has found foreign sales brochures advertising fresh fish from Norwegian fjords. Seven Polish recreational fishermen were caught at customs at Helligskogen, on their way out of the country with 383 kilos of cod loin in their luggage earlier this year. Photo: TOLLVESENET Difficult to control According to Nilsen, the foreign players mainly come from Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. The illegal business becomes particularly visible when foreign actors buy or rent houses in small places, and start fishing on a large scale. When the inspectors meet these groups, they are usually told that they are just groups of friends on a trip. – It is difficult to control these actors, he says. Wants a certification system Owner of Sandland brygge in Loppa municipality, Steinar Halvorsen, believes it is too easy to register as a fishing tourist company, and that not everyone is as careful about following up what the guests do. – Anyone can really start by renting out the house and a couple of boats, and register as a fishing tourist company. The guests can then fish and use the resources in the sea in the same way as us who operate seriously, says Halvorsen. He thinks it should be more strictly regulated and there should be a certification system that looks after those who operate seriously. Steinar Halvorsen has been fishing for tourists on Sandlandet since 2011, and he praises the customs officials’ efforts to prevent fish smuggling. Photo: Christer André Henriksen / news Halvorsen also thinks it is important to show that even if they follow the legislation, the serious players do not have control over what the guests do after they have left. – We know that there are fish farms that sell fish to tourists illegally, and this has happened on several occasions. We don’t have any proof, but when someone is stopped with 400 kg at the border, they haven’t just been to a fishing camp. Distortion of competition Workers’ rights are something that worries the A-crime center. – Foreign workers are particularly vulnerable to poor pay and working conditions because they are not familiar with the Norwegian regulations, says Magnus Nilsen. He also points out that this applies to the actors who operate tourist fishing legally, and that the actors in the industry must have equal conditions of competition. – It is difficult for the serious players to compete with those who circumvent the regulations and do not pay taxes and duties, says Nilsen. – Need stricter regulation Jan Morten Hansen, head of the Vest-Finnmark regional council, shares this concern. He emphasizes that this is an industry that the council has been concerned about for several years should be more strictly regulated. – Not least when we see that the fishing quota is decreasing for those who fish along the coast. Jan Morten Hansen, head of the Vest-Finnmark regional council, thinks it’s a shame that unscrupulous actors destroy those who operate fishing tourism legally. Photo: Hanne Larsen – That quantities are smuggled out of Finnmark is not fair or in line with how we manage our resources, he adds. Hansen also believes that there should be stricter regulation of who can operate fishing tourism in Norway. – There are many people who want to operate fishing tourism in a good way, according to the regulations. That is why it is a great shame that unscrupulous actors are challenging this business segment in Finnmark, he says. Published 04/07/2024, at 19.48
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Uncovered illegal fishing tourism in Vest-Finnmark – Several offenses found at several controlled companies – news Troms and Finnmark
