June 8, 2012 – Member associations of the Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (LÍÚ) will keep their boats tied to the country’s docks this week to protest the government’s fishing quota bill. Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir wants to limit the amount of fishing quotas that can be rented or sold and raise fees.
Fishing unions claim many Icelandic companies will be put out of business and thus the bill will have a negative effect on the economy, Ice News reports.
“We realise that stopping the fishing fleet will have consecuences for many parties associated with the fishing industry,” said LÍÚ. “We ask them all to respect this decision as it would be irresponsible not to respond to the serious situation that has been created. Our aim is to prevent the extensive damage that will result if the unchanged bills become law.”
Fishing vessel owners and employees of the fishing industry will gather together late this week to hold a solidarity meeting.
“Closer cooperation with authorities and more thorough work methods will be called for,” said information officer of LÍÚ Hlynur Sigurðsson, Icelandic Review reports.
Prime Minister Sigurdardottir said this week in parliament that tying up the vessels is illegal, a notion which was confirmed in a statement issued by the Icelandic Confederation of Labour (ASÍ).