There is a pressing need to close the capelin fishery in the Barents Sea, according to the Norwegian fishing organisation Fiskebåt. The body has urged the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries to introduce new regulations that would provide both environmental benefits and more stable conditions for the fleet.
Espen Jacobsen, head of department at Fiskebåt, said the industry could no longer rely on today’s unpredictable lottery-style system for allocating fishing rights.
“Vessels and owners need greater predictability to defend their investments. At the same time, we must design a regulatory framework that promotes more climate- and environmentally friendly operations,” Espen Jacobsen explained.
Direktorate resists closure
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has so far resisted calls for a closure, arguing that it is challenging to create fair participation criteria without ending up with too many or too few vessels involved. The directorate instead suggested that a rotation system could be considered, possibly in combination with stricter registration requirements.
Nevertheless, the authority acknowledged the industry’s concerns about the lack of predictability. Current rules, it noted, risk forcing operators to use outdated or unsuitable gear, thereby increasing the likelihood of net ruptures and the loss of valuable catches.
Fiskebåt, however, disagrees with the directorate’s conclusion. “The annual lottery does not meet the needs of the industry and is resource-intensive for both the sales organisations and the authorities,” Jacobsen said.
New framework proposed
To address the problem, Fiskebåt has put forward a detailed proposal. It includes limiting participation to vessels that have registered in recent years, excluding those not suited or equipped for the capelin fishery, and allowing exceptions only in cases of illness or serious technical failures.
The plan also calls for the creation of a rotation list among qualified vessels, annual quotas that ensure profitability, and rules governing the distribution of surplus quotas. Failure to set sail when a vessel’s turn comes would result in removal from the rotation, except in cases of illness or documented breakdowns.
According to Jacobsen, such measures would provide the necessary stability for vessels and owners, reduce environmentally harmful investments, and simplify the work of regulators and sales organisations alike.