The Norwegian Petroluem Directorate now admits that parts of the waters have not been mapped because of the resistance from the fishermen.
-We did not get into some of the areas we wanted to collect seismic data, the directorate information director Eldbjørg Vaage Melberg says to E24.no
As BarentsObserver reported, the three-year long seismic mapping of the Lofoten and Vesterålen was officially declared completed last week. Now, however it turns out that the area has not been fully studied after all.
The Lofoten and Vesterålen waters are believed to hide major hydrocarbon resources, but he fish industry in the region has remained sceptical to opening the area to exploration arguing that the fish stocks will come under threat.
Trying to soften resistance, the Petroluem Directorate offered the fishermen in the area money compensation to stay away when the seismic studies have been going on. That clearly did not bite on all the industry
