Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries The Norwegian system for management of living marine resources Minister of Fisheries Svein Ludvigsen

Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries

The Norwegian system for management of living marine resources

Minister of Fisheries Svein Ludvigsen


The Riches of the Sea - Norway`s Future

Norwegian Fisheries Industry

• 14.000 fishermen• 10.000 registered fishing vessels• 3 million tons landed yearly, at a value of 1.400 million Euro • 600 processing companies, 12.000 employees• Main species:

• Cod, Haddock, Saithe• Greenland Halibut, Ling, Tusk• Herring, Mackerel, Capelin• Blue Whiting, Sprat, Horse Mackerel• Prawn



Norwegian Economic Zone/shared stocks

• Norway controls some of the richest fishing grounds in the world

- The North Sea- The Norwegian Sea- The Barents Sea

• All highly productive areas, and

major fish stocks spawn right off our

coast.

• 90% of fish stocks shared with other

countries and cooperation is

essential to ensure sustainable

management



International cooperation

• Series of bilateral and multi-lateral agreements – neighbouring countries – annual meetings– decide on management measures

and division of quotas on shared stocks



Since 1990: Multilateral and Bilateral Cooperation

• Increased need for multilateral cooperation

• Further development with broadening and deepening of bilateral cooperation



Agenda 21

Identified problems facing world fisheries as:

• Insufficient management of the fisheries resources

• Over-utilisation of a number of fish stocks• Unregulated fishing• Overcapacity in the fishing fleet• The use of flag of convenience to escape

control• Use of fishing gear with insufficient small fish

selection• No trustworthy data• Lack of cooperation among states



The UN agreement on straddling and highly migratory fish stocks

• Principles:Sustainable utilisation, precautionary approach,compliance in- and outside 200 mile EEZs,

• International Co-operation Agreements:Regional fisheries management organisations,newcomers, transparency,

• Control and Enforcement:Flag- State responsibilities, cooperation on

enforcement, joint procedures for inspections,

• Dispute Settlement Mechanisms



At present - the word fisheries is in a unique historical change, where fishing is being transformed from an open access an unregulated activity (common -property) to a closed access, highly regulated and user rights based industry (private property rights)

Driving forces behind this development:

- technological developments- increased productivity- over-capacity- overexploited fish-stocks and sinking profitability

Historical change



New concepts for management of living marine resources:

• Sustainability• Precautionary• Biodiversity• Ecosystem

• “The Public Eye” - demands increased attention from fisheries managers with respect to consequences of management decisions



The main problem is not as much flaws in the current legal framework, but rather lack of political commitment and weak enforcement on the part of many states.

The legal framework

© Norwegian Seafood Export Council



Conclusion

In this decade our emphasis should be on implementation and enforcement of existing rules and regulations, including persuading more nations to become parties to the major agreements.

© The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research



Policy objective

“The Fisheries policy shall contribute to establish a sound basis for an economically viable development of the fisheries industry. A sustainable management of the living marine resources is pre-conditional. Through marked orientation and increased value adding, the fisheries sector shall contribute to good employment and living opportunities in the coastal communities.”



Regulations

Input regulations• Vessels -Concessions -Annual licens• Manpower -Fishermen`s Register



Regulations

Output regulations• Group Quotas• Individual Vessel Quotas• Maximum Quotas

• Periodic regulations• By-cath-rules• Start- and stop- dates



Regulations

Structure regulations• Unit Quota System• Decommission



The Norwegian system for quota allocation

Researchand capture statistics

ICES quota recommendationsQuota negotiations with relevant states

Contribution to The Advisory Board for Fisheries Regulations

Meeting in The Advisory Board for Fisheries

Regulations

Proposals from the Directorate of Fisheries and The Advisory Board to

the Ministry

Ministry of Fisheriesmakes their decision

Regulations adjustments

Experiences during the year”The Regulatory

Chain”



Regulations on North East Arctic Cod in 2004

Conventional gear151.907 tons

Havfiskeflåten

Annual TAC217.600 tons

Prioritygroup I 118.017 tons

Vessels 28 m and up 19.459 tons

Trawlers

65.693 tonn

Prioritygroup II 14.431 tons

21 – 28 meters 21.243 tons

15 – 21 meters 32.809 tons

10 – 15 meters46.145 tons

Under 10 meters 17.820 tons

77,7 %

12,8%

9,5%

30,19 %

69,81 %

Trawlers

Conventional gear

Documents

Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries The Norwegian system for management of living marine resources Minister of Fisheries Svein Ludvigsen