ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES

Einar K. Gudfinnsson,
Minister of Fisheries

The wealth of marine resources was for a long time assumed to be an unlimited gift of nature. The Icelanders, however, recognised at the dawn of the last century that this was a fallacy and then began their campaign to gain sovereignty of the country's fishing grounds in order to prevent excessive fishing by foreign fleets. This campaign was to last for three quarters of a century until its satisfactory conclusion in 1976. Since then, the Icelanders have had to adjust their own fishing effort to the productive capacity of the fishery resources and their sustainable utilisation. For a nation so dependent on the fishing industry it can be said that during this century, the control and management of the fisheries have formed an important part of Icelandic history.

Worldwide, the modern day expectations of the fisheries include sustainable utilisation of marine resources and the precautionary approach to fishing together with responsible handling of the catch, quality assurance in processing and safe products. The Icelandic government and the fishing industry also call for responsibility in the fishing industry based on the premise that sustainable development in the fisheries is vital for the industry and the nation alike, not only in the biological sense but also in economic terms.

Sustainability is a focal point in all international discussion of fishery issues and the utilisation of natural resources. Fish buyers today are much more concerned about whether they are buying fish that has been caught in a responsible and sustainable manner. Demands for products from sustainable fisheries are becoming more vociferous and more frequent. More and more often, fish exporters are forced to answer questions on the state of the fish stocks, on advisory matters related to fishing, on the position of the Government towards fishing issues, and so on.

In early August 2007, the Statement on Responsible Fisheries in Iceland was issued. The Statement is based on the conviction that the term “Icelandic fisheries management” has a positive connotation in the minds of people acquainted with the fishing industry. In the Statement, responsible parties within the industry – administrators, researchers, and other experts – describe how the Icelandic fisheries management system works. The Statement is a preparatory step for the certification process and has been issued primarily to emphasise that Icelanders are engaged in responsible fishing. This work is based on the FAO guidelines, which were approved by the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in 2005.

The Information Centre of the Ministry deals with many important issues related to the policy of utilising marine stocks on the basis of extensive research and allocating fishing rights on the basis of scientific recommendations. It is meant to inform interested people worldwide about our fisheries management, international agreements, important marine stocks, fishing vessels and gear, processing and the markets. The Information Centre also describes analytical research for trace substances in the marine environment and in Icelandic seafood. This has shown Icelandic waters to be unpolluted and the seafood wholesome but it is also clear that Icelanders have to be on their guard against ocean pollution and must promote international co-operation for arresting further pollution of the world oceans.

The Ministry of Fisheries trusts that this information will be useful to all those who share our interest in the promotion of responsible fisheries.

Reykjavík, March 2008
Einar K. Gudfinnsson, Minister of Fisheries