The director of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association has described as ‘very regrettable’ the proposal from the board of vessel owners’ federation Fiskebåt to withdraw its membership of the Association.
‘With the significant challenges the industry faces, I believe that division is the last thing we need,’ said Kåre Heggebø, director of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association.
The board of Fiskebåt has decided to recommend that its regional teams’ annual meetings endorse the board’s recommendation to leave the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association, and that the matter will then be taken up for final consideration at Fiskebåt’s annual meeting in February 2025 .
‘A split in the organisation will mean a significant weakening of the fishermen’s position and influence. My experience is that over time we have had great success as an organisation. I fear that we may risk wasting energy on internal bickering, rather than getting to work on the many and important issues on which we stand together. It is enough to point to offshore wind, mineral extraction, conservation processes, tax policy, green transition, market access and resource management,’ Kåre Heggebø said, commenting that the board of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association will soon meet to discuss the situation.
‘The Norwegian Fishermen’s Association is a membership organisation, and it is very disappointing that member associations have not been able to agree on an organisational model that everyone can accept. The Association has a nearly hundred-year history, and a unique position as a voice and representative of a combined fishing fleet. With a division, the fishermen’s most important position is undermined,’ Kåre Heggebø said.
Image: Jan-Erik Indrestrand, Fiskarlaget
