No control over illegal fishing
- The chance of being caught for illegal fishing for trawlers operating in Norwegian waters, is almost down to zero, says Norwegian Public Prosecutor Lars Fausa.
Public Prosecutor Fausa believes that there is an extensive amount of illegal fishing in the Barents Sea which Norwegian authorities have no control over. The chase for the Russian trawler Elektron in 2006 put a lot of focus on illegal fishing in the Barents Sea, but the illegal activity has not declined because of that, says Fausa to NRK.
Out of 230 000 trawler deliveries in Norwegian harbours, only one percent was controlled by the authorities. The chance of ever being caught for illegal fishing is very slim. Fausa has requested the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries to intensify their control activity, because Fausa is certain that the illegal activity is far higher than what statistics show.
Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affaires, Helga Pedersen, does not agree with the Public Prosecutor. According to her the Directorate of Fisheries has a high priority on illegal fishing. The Directorates budget is also increased the latest years.
