fishing
Deep-sea fishermen fear an escalation in the quota dispute
A shrimp cutter on the North Sea. – The German Fishing Day is held near the sea, in Emden. Photo: Sina Schuldt / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
According to German fisheries, Norway is trying to increase catch quotas in its favor after Brexit – but at the expense of EU fishermen. Is there a compromise?
The German deep-sea fishermen fear an imminent escalation of the fishing dispute between the EU and Norway as a result of Brexit.
“We are facing the greatest challenge in recent history,” said Samuel Rodriguez Ortega from the German Deep Sea Fisheries Association at the start of the German Fishing Day on Tuesday in Emden. According to German fisheries, Norway is trying to increase fishing quotas in its favor after Great Britain leaves the EU – but at the expense of EU fishermen.
The focus is therefore primarily on the cod quota off the island of Svalbard. The quota that the EU is allocated annually has been fixed since 1986, said Rodriguez Ortega. According to the association, EU fishermen are now entitled to a quota of around 24,600 tons after Brexit. Norway only wants to grant around 17,900 for 2021. “We’re talking about 7,000 tons of cod, it’s arctic cod in these waters – and that’s substantial,” said Rodriguez Ortega.
According to the deep-sea fishermen, the quota granted by Norway will shortly be fished. They fear tough measures from Norway should EU fishermen continue to fish there. You are counting on the EU finding a compromise with Norway, said Rodriguez Ortega. “But we’re running out of time.” Should it come to an escalation, the EU for its part must consider measures. Then, for example, import restrictions for cod products from Norway are conceivable, said Rodriguez Ortega.
According to the German Deep Sea Fisheries Association, the German deep-sea fleet consists of seven ships. The member companies are spread across northern Germany.