The Southern Norway Fishermen’s Association has issued a warning concering the most far-reaching proposals that have now been put forward relating to fisheries within Oslo Fjord.
‘The fishermen and the landing points are completely dependent on functioning ecosystems and fish stocks from which it can be harvested. We therefore share the concern that Oslo Fjord’s environmental state is under pressure, and that more new measures are needed,’ said Alessandro Astroza, of the Southern Norway’ Fishermen’s Association.
‘At the same time, there must be a balance in the measures, and we therefore warn against the most far-reaching proposals that have now been put forward.’
The Directorate of Fisheries has floated three different option. One is to Continue with the current rules from 2019, with a January-april ban on fishing in spawning grounds for cod, a ban on demersal nets and cod fishing within the baseline from Telemark to the Swedish border, and with the possibility of exemption for a smaller group of vessels.
A secnd option would be a ban on commercial fishing with non-selective gear , requirements for selective devices for trawl gear, and a restriction of recreational fishing to hand-held gear and stricter regulation of fishing lines.
The third option is the creation of three larger zero-fishing areas and a suspension of sprat fishing throughout the fjord.
‘Harvesting fish affects the ecosystems, but the overall load with a persistently high supply of nutrient salts, such as nitrogen and phosphorus from agriculture and sewage. In addition, a warmer climate and the reduction of important rearing and spawning areas in the coastal and beach zone has led to an imbalance in the ecosystems. These changes have happened quickly at a time when fishing effort has actually decreased,’ Alessandro Astroza said, commenting that shrimp fishing in the Oslo Fjord is selective, with little by-catch.
But cod has become the symbol of the challenges and an example of the complex state of Oslo Fjord waters.
He said that while cod is protected in the fjord, and at times produces strong cohorts with a lot of fry, there is no understanding of why the fry do not thrive.
‘This may indicate that factors other than direct harvesting from commercial fishing are the reason why it does not grow.’
The Southern Norway Fishermen’s Association believes that many of the proposals put forward have dramatic implications for commercial fishing in the area – particularly the options of zero fishing within Horten-Moss, and in Ytre Hvaler and Færder National Park.
‘We cannot accept either that zero fishing in the national parks should be decided with the stroke of a pen. When the national parks were created in their time, it was with the desire to take care of special and protection-worthy nature. At the same time, there was a certainty that there were traditional fishing grounds in the areas where it had been harvested for a long time. It was a clear prerequisite that the traditional fishing activity should also be safeguarded in the new national parks,’ Alessandro Astroza said.
‘We share the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries’ assessment that the fisheries regulations in the Oslo Fjord are already strict and that further tightening has a societal cost. This underlines our concern that there is an excessive belief that new fisheries measures alone will lead to the Oslo Fjord achieving an improved environmental condition quickly and permanently.’
The report and proposals have now been sent to the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries for further follow-up and assessment.
‘We cannot accept that the fishing industry should be primarily responsible for cleaning up after all the years of human impact on a fjord system where well over a million people in Norway live. We would ask the government to assess the consequences carefully and in the light of a holistic perspective with regard to the environmental impact that the Oslo Fjord is facing.’
