According to the information the Norwegian fisheries industry as a whole stands to lose at least NOK one billion, after the EU 10 days ago banned Norwegian fishermen from catching mackerel in EU waters. It is reported that the EU coast guard has turned away more than 30 Norwegian vessels after serving them short notice. Norwegian authorities reveal that this was unexpected and a clear breach of the bilateral fisheries agreement between Norway and the EU.
Inge Halstensen, spokesman for the Norwegian Association of Fishingboat Owners, opined that if they cannot trust the EU as an agreement partner, Norway will have to deny EU fishermen access to the Norwegian zone in the North Sea and the Barents Sea. Negotiations between Norway and the EU continued last week, but it is feared that an agreement may not be reached before this year’s mackerel seaon is over in two weeks time.
