Languages

Fish industry might put up a fight against Big Oil

The Norwegian Coastal Fishing Association prepares for a sea battle should the oil industry send their seismic vessels to the fishing fields during the catch season.

Location

There are significant values which are at stake should the fisherman be obstructed by the petroleum vessels in the upcoming haddock catch season, newspaper FiskeribladetFiskaren writes. The catch season is due 26 May – 29 June. However, in the same period – from 15 May to September – the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate plans to send two seismic vessels to the Lofoten waters.

The seismic activities are believed to scare away the fish stocks from the area, and have therefore spurred major frustration within the Norwegian fish industry.

The Coastal Association has already announced that it will declare war against the Petroleum Directorate if the seismic operations are started in the haddock period

-The political oil enthusiasm is overshadowing all protection plans, a local representative of the association says to FiskeribladetFiskaren.

The waters outside Lofoten and Vesterålen in Norway are vital spawning ground for several fish stocks. It is also believed to be among Norway’s most perspective areas for oil and gas production. According to a Norwegian management plan, the area is protected against exploration until 2010.The management plan does however open up for seismic mapping in the area.

Read the Norwegian report on Integrated Management of the Marine Environment of the Barents Sea and the Sea Areas off the Lofoten Islands at government.no (in English)