European Union fishermen, represented by Europêche, urge EU citizens to stop consuming Norwegian fish and food retailers and suppliers to stop buying Norwegian caught seafood. Fishermen make this request in response to the illegal appropriation of the European fishing quota by the Norwegian Government and to contribute to the survival of the Union’s fishing industry and fish stocks.
Likewise, the sector reiterates the call to the Community institutions to close the single market to fish from the Nordic country and eliminate trade preferences granted to Norwegian fishery products, especially cod and mackerel, as measures to protect companies of the EU. According to the fishing industry, there is a large share of mackerel produced in the EU, so there is no need for additional supply to the European market.
According to Daniel Voces, CEO of Europêche, “Norway seems to have abandoned the path of dialogue and cooperation by deciding unilaterally and bypassing the legality to seize the EU fishing quota. With these decisions, the Norwegian Government is showing a flagrant disregard for international law and a lack of respect for the EU as a partner and ally ”.
For Europêche, the Norwegian government is taking advantage of the UK’s departure from the EU and the aftermath of Brexit to illegally appropriate the EU’s fishing quota for cod and mackerel. With the aggravation that this reckless and irresponsible behavior has prompted other countries, such as the Faroe Islands, to follow in their footsteps and unilaterally increase their quota of mackerel. In this sense and regarding this last species, the European employers warn of the danger that a unilateral increase in the quota could endanger the sustainability of the stock in the next two years.
According to Voces, “unless the EU sends a strong signal to these countries, nothing will prevent them from getting more and more community quotas for these and other fish species. EU citizens should know that the legality and sustainability of fish from Norway are now being questioned ”.
For the European fisheries sector, Norway’s attitude and its unilateral increases in fishing quotas not only endanger the survival of the industry and the employment of community fishermen, but also the sustainability of important fish stocks, such as mackerel and cod, as well as posing a serious threat to the future of a constructive partnership with the EU. For these reasons, and since 60% of the fish caught by Norwegians ends up on the European market, EU fishermen urge citizens to stop consuming Norwegian seafood.
“The unacceptable and unfair behavior of Norway shows no respect for the fishing rights agreed and established by the EU in the Atlantic. This sets a dangerous precedent for an important EU partner, Norway, which shies away from deals for short-term economic benefits. It would be scandalous and outrageous if the EU continues to grant preferential access to the market for seafood products from a country that has illegally appropriated the community quota and, furthermore, puts the sustainability of a species of fish at risk ”, concludes the Director General of Europêche.
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