Fish Buyers and fast boats in Northern Norway

Tim

2009-11-01 16:35:49

Hi all,

I am currently attending university in Tromsø, Norway, on exchange. During the time I have been here, I have been trying to research the Norwegian fisheries as much as possible. I fish in AK during the summers (used to in the fall and spring before going back to school) and had for some unknown reason always believed that Norway`s fisheries were dismal. Now, I have learned that their cod fishery is on the up and up with recent good prices (though a bit lower this year like all else)and spawning fish moving further north from Lofoten. Of course, fishing salmon is illegal and people rely on farmed salmon here. There are only three species that have quota (Cod, Haddock and Sei) and everybody is entitled to buy into the quota (lump sums and not bought per pound) or it also comes with the boat size if you are a declared part+time fisherman. In other words, the quota species belong to everyone fishing and it does not take such a huge investment as it does in AK. And, their species are still doing very well. As for halibut, they have no limit (and not such a booming charter fishing fleet as well). This is not my point, but I thought to include this just as my opinion regarding the IFQ system adopted by AK is beginning to swing more towards the "maybe not such a grand idea" side of the meter. I am young and dumb and realize this is a messy, messy can of worms, but perhaps I would have done it a bit differently (I am a socialist scumbag afterall). Hence, I will move on to my point.

I have been talking to and meeting many, many smaller boat fishermen and all the fish buyers here in north Troms are closing down. And, trying to find a place to sell your fish is becoming harder and harder. Many are throwing in the towel and others are having to travel many hours north to Finnmark to find a buyer. But, the fish are HERE! Definitely a head-scratcher for me. But, I am learning why...slowly. That said, I read and hear about so many complaints about SPC and Sitka SOund and this and that....I am now of the opinion that we trollers should just be happy that we even have a place to deliver! Of course I am not advocating complacency as I have also advocated that trollers need to unite.

For part-time work, I am "lossing" huge factory autoliners and trawlers. I go down into the freezers of these massive ships once or twice a week and with a team of burly nordic dudes unload 50 kilo blocks of frozen fish until the hold is empty. Usually 200 to 500 tons later. I try not to think, I just work hard (it pays the rough equivalent of 70 US Dollars per hour). But, being a fisherman,I do think. And what I think is usually, "Damn, Southeast AK is fisherman paradise. Small boat fleet. Mom and Pop and the kids aboard. Many professional and diligent political advocates fighting to keep these behemoth boats out of our waters. " Way to go all who contribute their time and energy to make Southeast AK perhaps the best place to fish in the world.

And finally, the future of Norwegian fisheries? Really fast boats and charter fleets moving in!!! Yep. The latest trend is selling your old boat that only pushes 7 knots and getting a sweet Viksund that does 20 or more. And, be sure it has sitting space for 5 or more. You see, here in Norway, any fisherman can also exercise his right to be a charter guide on the boat, too. I have traveled around the world and seen many fishing fleets and, well, I am going to stick my neck out a bit and say that charter fishing just seems to be a bad idea.

That is all for now. Just thought I would spray a little on the sight that keeps me connected to my home fishing grounds!!!! We have to be sure to NEVER EVER allow those big boats in our waters!

Salty

2009-11-01 17:00:44

Tim,

Great story!! Could you maybe post some pictures of those sweet Viskunds? How long are they, what kind of power, and how fuel efficient are they?

No accident that the trawlers don't get to fish in SE Alaska. Linda Behnken, the driver behind prohibiting ground fish trawling in the Federal Waters off of SE Alaska is one of National Fisherman Magazine's "Highliners" this year. Also the first Pacific coast woman highliner.

The guided sport fish industry as it has been prosecuted off of SE Alaska is no longer a viable or ethical industry. It is absolutely carbon criminal to spend that kind of carbon flying to Alaska, going out on a small boat that burns 100 gallons or so of gasoline a day to catch one King salmon and one halibut per person. And the guides know it. The responsible guys are fleeing the industry or changing the nature of their business. The guides are stressed to the max as it becomes increasingly difficult to catch halibut close to Sitka and the longline industry resists the guides efforts to continue to harvest above their allocated share of both halibut and blackcod. An otherwise responsible local guide had an absolute meltdown at a recent Sitka Advisory Committee meeting over sport blackcod limits.

One of the great things about SE Alaska and Alaska managed fisheries is that we have rebuilt fishery resources (particularly salmon) and sustained them at healthy levels now for nearly 30 years. If the resource is healthy then there is a chance for healthy fishing communities. The same thing will happen in Norway. If there is a healthy resource then the young fishermen and community leaders will figure out a way to access it. If the resource is not sustained then all will suffer.

I would love to see some pictures of a successful small boat operation fishing cod in Norway. My father immigrated from Norway when he was 12. The Jordan tooth brushes are a product of my distant Norwegian relatives.