Last year a number of women working on Norwegian fishing vessels came forward, reporting serious sexual harassment in the fishing industry.
This has resulted in significant attention within the Norwegian fishing industry, and leading to a new collaboration that brings together the Norwegian Maritime Directorate, the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association, the Norwegian Coastal Fishermen’s Association, the Seamen’s Association, the Pelagic Association, pressure group Hun Fisker and the country’s Equality and Discrimination Ombudsman in an initiative to raise awareness and fight back against harassment.
The Norwegian Seafood Federation is also participating, providing a point of contact for the shore-based industry side of the collaboration, which is expected to run to September 2023.
The agreement was signed in Trondheim during the Nor-Fishing exhibition, with Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bjørnar Selnes Skjæran, equality and discrimination ombudsman Bjørn Erik Thon, maritime director Knut Arild Hareide, and representatives of the concerned organisations all present.
