Norwegian industry associations Nord Fiskarlag, Norges Kystfiskarlag and Pelagisk Forening have made a formal complaint to the Finnsnes police in the north of Norway over the sinking of decommissioned frigate KNM Bergen on fishing grounds off the Senja coast.
The Norwegian navy sank the vessel on the Svensgrunnen fishing grounds during an exercise in September last year.
The industry organisations state that this incurs violations of the Pollution Control Act, concerning pollution and waste management, specifically with reference to leaving items on the seabed that can harm marine life, engage in ghost fishing and obstruct the fishing activities, damage fishing gear and endanger vessels.
The areas where the wreck is located have historically been used by the purse seine and trawl fleet. The presence of the wreck becomes an obstacle on productive fishing grounds where tracking data indicates that this fishing area has been in use for many years.
The organisations state that this represents the loss of an important fishing area, potentially forcing fishermen to operate further off.
