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A WAR of words appears to be opening up in Iceland over radical plans to reform the country's fisheries management system.
Adolf Gudmundsson, chairman of the Icelandic Fishing Vessel owners Association (LIU) said in a recent interview on his organisation's website that Iceland was now going in the opposite direction of the European Union. He was referring to EU plans to reform the Common Fisheries Policy in which fishing vessels are to be given long term quota shares guaranteed for periods of up to 15 years, similar to the current Icelandic policy.
But Mr Gudmundsson said the Icelandic Government was now putting forward ideas that were going the other way, with restrictions on transferring quotas and strict prohibition orders.
LIU director Frederick I. Arngrimmsson, a director of LIU warned that Icelandic society would lose out if the changes went ahead as proposed. It would also lead to wastage.
However, one senior politician Lila Rainey Magnúsdóttir, said fundamental changes to the management system were brought in because it would bring real benefits to Icelandic society as a whole. All would benefit, she added.
The Reykjavik Government says the move would bring up to £28-million (around five billion crooners) more, much of which would be ploughed back into the fishing industry or spent on projects in rural areas.
The reforms will mean that the open and free permanent transfer of quotas between fishing companies will be ended. Trawler owning companies will have to pay more money up front for the privilege of using the fishing grounds. Fishing licences or leases, as they are sometimes called, will be for periods of up to 15 years, but renewals may be allowed before licences expire.
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