The head of the organization that promotes the interests of the Icelandic fishing fleet, has provided a detailed attack on his government’s plans for reform of the quota management system.
“The proposals will not only cost the industry expensive, but will also steal money out of the Icelandic people’s pockets and empty them of millions of dollars,” says Frederick J. Argrímsson, executive director of LIU, Association of Icelandic fishing vessel owners.
The bill presented currently before Parliament, the Icelandic Parliament. But it is still uncertain whether the bill when coming to a vote before the Icelandic parliamentary elections held in April this year.
The magazine Fiskifrettum, lists Argrímsson a number of negative consequences, the industry has lived with for the last four years. Among other bills that have increased state intervention and centralized planning of the sector. Are both, according Argrimsson, prepared without concern for the negative impact they would have on the industry.
Developments such as new fees for fishing licenses and taxes on the estimated excess will drain and lead to losses among companies and hit the small and medium-sized businesses hard. Argrímsson is also sharp in his criticism of the new method of allocating fishing quotas, which in the end will lead to a strong reduction in revenues and profits for the vessels.
“Had this law been in place for just two years ago in 2011, would revenue from the catches have been nine billion lower and led to a fall in export value of no less than 14 billion dollars.” tells an angry Argrimsson and call it therefore absurd when some argue that it will promote the protection of fish stocks and that it will provide a sustainable exploitation of stocks around Iceland as well as providing a secure and stable employment for the industry. However, a government interference, after Argrimssons view, does not lead to anything other than an accident.
Kilde: FishUpdate.com
FiskerForum.com
