CHIL.ME

Europeche/EAPO

The EU pelagic fishing industry, organized under the banners of EAPO and Europêche, strongly rejects the decision made public yesterday by the Norwegian government to unilaterally increase Norway’s share in the mackerel fishery by 55% and is calling on the EU to take immediate action by whatever means to stop it.

Europeche

Desde 2013, los buques de la UE han sido autorizados a pescar cangrejo de nieve en las aguas de Mar de Barents y Svalbard. A pesar de que estos buques llevan una licencia de pesca válida, unos pocos fueron detenidos por las autoridades noruegas, que se niegan a reconocer el derecho legítimo de los buques de la UE a operar de manera sostenible y legal en esta área. Hasta la fecha, 19 barcos grandes de varios países de la UE permanecen atados en el puerto por miedo a ser arrestados. Un reciente fallo de un tribunal noruego ha declarado ilegítimas las restricciones noruegas y contrarias a las obligaciones internacionales asumidas por Noruega.

Europeche

Depuis 2013, les navires de l'UE ont été autorisés à pêcher le crabe des neiges dans les eaux de la mer de Barents et de Svalbard. Bien que ces navires possèdent une licence de pêche valide, quelques-uns ont été arrêtés par les autorités norvégiennes, qui refusent de reconnaître le droit légitime des navires de l'UE de fonctionner de manière durable et juridique dans ce domaine. À ce jour, 19 grands bateaux de plusieurs pays de l'UE restent attachés au port par peur d'être arrêtés. Une récente décision de la Cour norvégienne a déclaré les restrictions norvégiennes illégitimes et contraires aux obligations internationales assumées par la Norvège.

Dear Members of the European Parliament,

                Europêche is writing to you with regards to the latest developments on the issue of the snow crab conflict in the Barents Sea, particularly in the Svalbard zone, between the EU and the Kingdom of Norway.

We are not satisfied with how the EU is handling the situation. Since the arrest of the Latvian crab fishing vessel Senator on 16 January 2017, the EU has not managed to move forward, not in the form of “informal talks” with Norway, nor in the form of formal actions that the EU could have taken in order to protect the legal rights of EU fishermen. At the same time, the EU fleet which consists of vessels flying flags of Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Spain, has to bear huge financial losses, being tied up in port.

Europeche

Since 2013, EU vessels have been authorised to fish for snow crab in the Barents Sea and Svalbard waters. Even though these vessels carry a valid fishing license, a few were arrested by the Norwegian authorities, who refuse to recognise the legitimate right of EU vessels to sustainably and legally operate in this area. To date, 19 large boats from several EU countries remain tied up in port out of fear of being arrested. A recent Norwegian court ruling has declared Norwegian restrictions illegitimate and contrary to the international obligations undertaken by Norway.