Fishermen’s organisations from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are urging governments to initiate more effective dialogue on offshore wind farms and the state of the seas. The call came after a joint meeting in Gothenburg this week, where leaders warned that the current debate on fisheries is too polarised.
Offshore wind is a rising concern
The Swedish, Norwegian and Danish organisations stressed that offshore wind projects are often planned without proper consultation. Mathias Ivarsson, chairman of Sweden’s Fishermen’s Producer Organisation (Sveriges Fiskares Producentorganisation), said that reasonable fishing grounds are at risk.
“There is space for offshore wind turbines without destroying important fishing areas, but it demands dialogue and cooperation,” Ivarsson said.
Fisheries under pressure
The groups also raised concern about the state of marine ecosystems and fish stocks in their waters. Kåre Heggebø, chairman of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association (Norges Fiskarlag), pointed to the Oslofjord ban on fishing as an example of a quick fix that does not address real issues.
“We fishers depend on a healthy sea. We want to contribute, but blanket bans do not solve the problems,” Heggebø said.
Bottom trawling debate heats up
The meeting also discussed international criticism of bottom trawling, a method central to the fishing industry. The leaders warned against what they see as a one-sided debate in the EU.
“Trawling is vital for food supply, and there are no real alternatives today. We need to improve the method, not ban it,” said Svend-Erik Andersen, head of the Danish Fishermen’s Association (Danmarks Fiskeriforening)
Call for cooperation
The three organisations agreed to work more closely together on issues such as marine protected areas and fishing methods. They stressed that fisheries must be part of the solution for a sustainable ocean.