Fishing vessel owners want to participate more in marine research in Iceland’s waters and take part in making decisions regarding the fishing industry. A professor of fish science says more money should be put into research.
“I totally support the Marine Research Institute’s claims that the situation is very serious. […] We have to comply with the Institute’s recommendations for the next fishing season and make a long-term plan on how to organize research and how to harness the cod stock in the future,” Gudrún Marteinsdóttir, a professor in fish science at the University of Iceland’s Biology Institute, told Fréttabladid.
“Regarding cod it is very important to increase research on stock types, spread, behavior, the biological history of subspecies, spawning territory and where the fish mature,” Marteinsdóttir continued, suggesting ISK 70 to 100 million (USD 1.1 to 1.6 million, EUR 830,000 to 1.2 million) should be spent on investigating cod each year.
“I believe the industry should participate to a much greater extent in both research and decisions on the total quota. It is best that those who have the most interests participate more in research,” Fridrik J. Arngrímsson, the managing director of the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners, told Fréttabladid.
Arnbjörg Sveinsdóttir, the director of the fishing industry committee of the Althingi parliament said increased participation of fishing vessel owners should be considered.
“Funding for marine research in general should be increased as well as funding for the research undertaken by the Marine Research Institute, both from the state budget and with participation from fishing vessel owners,” Sveinsdóttir said.
Gudmundur Kristjánsson, the CEO of fishing company Brim, agreed, but added: “The industry shouldn’t just pay and not have a say in anything, then we won’t have any success. But I think it’s a good thing if fishing vessel owners and scientists can cooperate.”
