Iceland’s Minister of Fisheries Svandís Svavarsdóttir has authorised a 1500 tonne boost to the overall quota available to small-scale boats fishing within the coastal fisheries regime.
This brings the total coastal quota to 10,000 tonnes for this year, and 2022 will be the fourteenth summer that the coastal fishery has been in operation.
The aim of this fleet sector when it was introduced was too enable sustainable coastal fisheries and to open a way for those without access to regular quotas to get started in fishing.
‘I have received many communications from coastal fishermen requesting an increase for this sector to increase value creation and provide an equal footing for all areas of the country,’ Svandís Svavarsdóttir said.
‘I take these requests very seriously and have initiated work on this. It is vital that the coastal fisheries continue so as to support regions, sustainability and food security.’
According to the Ministry, this decision is intended to support the coastal fishery, as numerous families rely on this for part of their income. The amount available for the coastal fishery is set according to advice from the Institute of Marine Research and the Minister’s decision in setting the TAC.
