The Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs has decided
to introduce an export quota for fish and fish products starting 1
June 2006.This export quota will limit the quantity of marine fish or
fish products from recreational fishing that can be exported from
Norway to 15 kg per person.
"This is a measure that has been
under consideration for a long time, and the fact that the export
quota will now come into effect is an important signal at the
advent of the summer season. Fishing tourism is an important part
of the travel and tourism industry and generates both employment
and increased wealth in coastal communities. It is important,
however, that the exploitation of fishery resources be subject to
responsible constraints. The export quota is not intended to hinder
fishing tourism for sport, and I hope this will help settle the
tourist fishing controversy in Norway," says Minister of Fisheries
and Coastal Affairs Ms Helga Pedersen.
"We use the export quota to
facilitate the further development of responsible fishing tourism
as a tourism product, and the export quota will have a preventive
effect on quantity-oriented fishing tourism," says Ms Pedersen.
All sports fishermen, including
tourists, are subject to fishing tackle restrictions. These
restrictions will not be amended as a result of the export quota.
Fish or fish products will not be included in the quota if it can
be documented that the goods were purchased from a registered
business. Freshwater fish, salmon, trout and Arctic char are not
covered by the export quota.
Out of consideration for border
control and the EEA agreement, the export quota will also apply to
Norwegian citizens.
Some of the fishing tourism has
been criticised by many for amounting to a hidden form of
commercial fishing that threatens local fishery resources and
traditional commercial fishing, and fishing tourism has been
subject to a great deal of media attention. Earlier this year, a
party of tourists was caught leaving Bjørnefjell, Norway with
nearly 500 kg of fish fillets, and this triggered a new, extensive
debate about the regulation of fishing tourism.
"It is unfortunate that a whole
industry has to suffer because of certain individual episodes, and
cases like the one we had at Bjørnefjell this winter undermine the
legitimacy of both the travel and tourism industry and resource
management. By establishing an export quota, we make it clear that
a hidden form of commercial fishing is unacceptable, and this is an
attitude we share with the travel and tourism industry," says Ms
Helga Pedersen.
Furthermore, extensive studies are
underway of the scope and impact of fishing tourism, both with
regard to fish stocks and the generation of wealth. The Norwegian
Hospitality Association and the Norwegian Institute of Marine
Research are involved in these studies, and the results will
provide us with more information about fishing tourism in
Norway.
"In connection with the
introduction of the export quota, the fishery authorities also
intend to implement a publicity campaign about responsible fishing
and the current minimum size limits for ordinary fishing in
collaboration with the travel and tourism industry," says Minister
of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Ms Helga Pedersen.
