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Jóhanna Sigurđardóttir |
ICELAND'S Fisheries Minister Jon Bjarnason is embroiled in a major political row over proposed fishing reforms which could cost him his job or force his resignation.
Iceland's media are reporting that he has come under fire from his Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurđardóttir for the way he has handled the controversial fisheries bill which proposes widespread changes to the way the country's fish quota system is to be managed in future. Iceland's catching industry is almost solidly against the proposals, at least in the way that is being suggested.
From the UK it might be seen as a purely domestic political issue other than the fact that British fish processors depend on Icelandic cod and haddock for much of their supplies. What happens in Reykjavik can affect jobs on the Humber.
According to the website IcelandReview.com, Mr Bjarnsaon's position is said to be weak within the government after he submitted a draft bill on revisions to the laws on fisheries control without consulting his fellow ministers.
Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurđardóttir criticised the minister harshly for his methods, stating that he had not consulted government in the drafting of the bill. She said there was a lot of discontent within the coalition government over the issue.
She said: "This work document or draft bill is solely in the responsibility of Jón Bjarnason. Jón has kept the entire government and parliamentary party in the dark about this work in spite of our repeated requests that we participate in this matter.”
She added: "And when the minister finally presented it to us on Tuesday it appears that he has moved a long distance away from the [coalition] parties’ policy on fisheries and it is clear that this bill will never be submitted as a ministerial bill in its unchanged form."
Last week the executive took the responsibility of reviewing the laws on fisheries control from his ministry to a council of ministers, which has left him in a difficult position.
But the Minister remains defiant and he told the RUV, Iceland's main broadcaster that he still retains the full authority to restructure the fishing quota systems and the laws that go with those changes.
Ólöf Nordal, vice president of the Independence Party said the Government had totally failed on fishing reform, and she predicted that Mr Bjarnason would be relieved of his fishing duties to proceed with Iceland's EU membership "which was also against the will of the people".
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