Norway: Siltanews – News Desk
The Norwegian government has approved amendments to the Marine Resources Act, granting the Directorate of Fisheries and the Coast Guard the authority to confiscate, destroy, or dispose of unmarked fishing gear when the owner cannot be identified.
“This change simplifies the handling of illegal fishing gear and frees up resources for both the Directorate of Fisheries and the police,” said Fisheries and Ocean Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss. “It will also help clean up lost equipment, reduce marine pollution and ghost fishing, and ensure more efficient use of public resources.”
Under the current rules, all confiscated fishing gear must be reported and handed over to the police, which requires significant resources from both the Directorate and law enforcement. The new legislation allows for a more streamlined process, empowering both the Directorate and the Coast Guard to manage unmarked gear without police involvement.
The Directorate of Fisheries has been conducting annual operations to retrieve lost fishing equipment since the early 1980s, focusing on clearing critical fishing grounds along the Norwegian coastline. Over the years, thousands of tonnes of abandoned gear have been recovered. These include gillnets and traps, which pose the greatest risk for ghost fishing, as well as other materials such as longlines, seines, nets, ropes, trawl cables, and anchors.
The new regulations are expected to bolster efforts to safeguard marine ecosystems and reduce the environmental impact of abandoned fishing gear. This initiative is part of Norway’s broader strategy to promote sustainable fisheries and protect the country’s rich marine resources.