The Westman Islands is one of the largest fishing regions in that fisheries-dependent nation.
The tax rebate, currently around €5.5 a day spent at sea, is the only similar scheme in the country, and has been in force for more than 50 years, seen as a compensation for the fishermen’s long absence from their homes and families.
“Those who want them eliminated cite that vessels are now not what they were etc – i.e. working conditions are now much better” a spokesman for the Iceland Fishing Vessel Owners Association told Fishupdate.com. “Things have certainly moved on – also in the private and public sector where people receive tax free travel expenses to cover food and accommodation when staying away from their natural habitat. Fishermen look at their tax breaks as a somewhat similar thing”, he added.
It could be noted, meanwhile, that all Icelanders, including fishermen, are currently facing dramatically raised taxes, VAT and alcohol duties as their Government is struggling to get the nation’s economy back on its feet after the global financial crisis and the downfall of several Icelandic banks hit that nation particularly hard.
The fishermen – both the trade unions and the owners association – are also upset over proposals to re-distribute fishing quotas and to impose a levy on exports of unprocessed fish.
