The European Court of Human Rights dismissed the case of Björn Gudni Gudjónsson vs. the Icelandic state in late December because of a ban on the fishing of female lumpfish in the laws on net fishing, concluding that the charge was “manifestly ill-founded.”
In his charge, Gudjónsson pointed towards a ruling made by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on October 24, 2007, in the case of Erlingur Sveinn Haraldsson and Arnar Snaevar Sveinsson vs. the Icelandic state on the control of fisheries, as described in a press release from the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (LÍÚ).
The European Court of Human Rights concluded that the conclusion of that case had no influence on the current case. The court stated in its ruling that the government’s arguments that they had had the legal authority to punish Gudjónsson for being in breach of the female lumpfish ban were sound.
According to the ruling, the Icelandic fisheries control system does not involve limitations that are in breach of human rights. It was established to protect public interests and to protect fish stocks and does not go too far in that regard.
Click here to read the ruling.
