Angling group calls for second thoughts on aquaculture reform

The National Association of Fishing Organisations is not happy with some of the proposals in the proposed legislation which is due to become law later this year.

 

It wants the Althingi (Iceland’s Parliament) to set aside the existing bill and “seek agreement with all stakeholders on the drafting of a new bill”.

 

The Association says: "Not only will the interests of the aquaculture industry be safeguarded, but consideration will also be given to environmental protection, the protection of wild fish stocks, and the economy related to angling on an equal footing with that related to aquaculture.

 

“The National Association declares itself ready to participate in the drafting of such a (new) bill.”

 

The resolution was approved at the association’s annual meeting which was attended by member groups from all over the country and where issues in the proposed legislation came under intense discussion.

 

The association, which has a big following among sports fishermen both inside and outside Iceland, is extremely unhappy with some of the proposals in the bill, which sets out to reform the aquaculture regime in Iceland.

 

At a meeting earlier this year, the association voiced hopes that the new bill would be a real improvement from previous proposals, and would reduce the risk to wild salmon stocks and other ecosystems.

 

It has now said, however: “Those hopes have been dashed. In the opinion of the meeting, the bill entrenches open-pen aquaculture of fertile salmon for the future, with serious risks to wild stocks and fishing rights.”

 

The National Association was founded in 1958, with “the role of safeguarding the common interests of fishing associations in Iceland”, years before salmon farming came to the country.