Yachting and Boating World forums: Tensions rise between fishing and oil industries

Wonder if this will spread to the UK Sector (probably not as the fish and not ahve all but dried up

)

A feverish quest for new sources of oil, fuelled by high oil prices, is sparking territorial battles between Norwegian fishing interests and oil exploration firms searching for new reserves in the North and Norwegian seas.

Last year, three fishing boats tried to prevent the seismic vessel Polshkov from conducting oil exploration in the seas off Vesterålen.
PHOTO: ANE HANSDATTER KISMUL/SCANPIX

Skirmishes have been taking place for months off the coast of Norway, as fishing vessels and seismic vessels try to work in the same areas. Last year, three fishing boats tried to prevent a seismic vessel from conducting oil exploration in the seas off Vesterålen.

Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv reported earlier this month that offshore territorial battles have grotten so intense that oil service- and exploration firms have started paying fishermen large sums to leave the area. Not everyone is agreeing to do so.

Many fishermen claim the oil exploration firms are simply trying to bribe them to give up their livelihoods. They also complain that the seismic activity is scaring fish stocks away from formerly rich fields.

Calling in the cops
A fishing organization in western Norway (Sogn og Fjordane Fiskarlag) reported four cases in January of oil firms trying to force them out of prime fishing areas because their boats interfered with seismic exploration. Most fishing vessels refuse to leave, fueling conflicts.

"They're howling about how much money they're losing," fishing vessel skipper Kim Lund told Dagens Næringsliv. "We lost lots of money last year, too."

Angry fishermen held a meeting this week with the government minister in charge of oil and energy, Åslaug Haga. They told newspaper Aftenposten that the seismic vessels are acting like "cowboys" on the fishing fields, that the seismic vessels risk colliding with fishing vessels, and that they also hope the police will intervene.

"This can't continue," said Reidar Nilsen of Norwegian fishing association Norges Fiskarlag. "The seismic vessels aren't paying any consideration to the fishing vessels. They're creating major problems, and income loss for those fishing."

Oil ministry officials have granted permission to the seismic firms, and not a single seismic firm has been penalized so far, reported Aftenposten. That's why the fishermen are turning to the police.

'Special case'
"It's a special case, and apparently unique in Norway," said prosecutor Terje Gjertsen of the Sogn og Fjordane Police District. He confirmed the four seismic firms reported are Norwegian-owned, and that police are investigating.

Government oil officials claim the fishermen have priority and that seismic firms are ordered to accord them consideration. Odd Rausten of the Norwegian Oil Directorate said a group has been commissioned to investigate the conflict, and come up with possible solutions.

Aftenposten English Web Desk
Nina Berglund
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/business/article2258390.ece

--------------------
Killing forum threads since 2002.