Ársfundur Evrópusamtaka forstjóra og forystumanna evrópskra hafrannsókna- og elsisrannsóknastofnana.

Address of Mr Einar K. Guðfinnsson, Minister of fisheries, Iceland

at the opening of

the 16th annual directors meeting of EFARO
(European Fisheries & Aquaculture Research Organisations)

Radisson SAS Saga Hotel, Reykjavik, 31 May 2006

Mme (HE) Ambassador, President of EFARO Dr Maurice Héral, ladies and gentlemen,

It was with great pleasure I accepted the opportunity to address you and to share some time with you during the 16th annual directors meeting of EFARO. As perhaps typical for an island nation, Icelanders always find guests from other countries and cultures of interest to meet and communicate with. And if we can talk about success of the Icelandic economy, it is of course for one thing, we like to claim, due to hard working people and also no less the rich natural resources. But not the least has it been due to the fact that we have been able to benefit from knowledge, experience and wisdom of other nations, in the east and west, and perhaps to the greatest extent, our European neighbours.

It has long been debated in Iceland how far we should integrate into the enlarging European community. In the early 1990's a major move in this respect was taken by the formation of the EEA (European Economic Area), which comprised the (then) EU countries and the EFTA member states. This stepped up Iceland's cooperation with European nations in all areas, including cooperation in science, not the least since Iceland, by its contribution to the joint research funds, was eligible to apply for financial support in joint projects. No one debates any longer on the usefulness of this cooperation for the Icelandic scientific community and for other reasons I am not going to dwell with.

I understand EFARO is a result of the need of directors of European fisheries and aquaculture research organisations to join forces to create critical masses for research in various topics, and to avoid fragmentation and duplication in fisheries and aquaculture research. Also to join in analyses of the status and prospects, and to help shaping European research strategies.

The task of the fisheries and aquaculture science is today of great importance in the European society, where food is important as ever and technology is efficient, even to the extent that it often threatens our natural resources. This is well reflected in the reform of the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy), where the EFARO research objectives are oriented towards key points, namely
 the environmental management of fisheries and aquaculture,
 the economic and social issues in the management of fisheries and aquaculture, and perhaps I would say, not the least
 the improvement of scientific advice with a more active stakeholder involvement.

While Iceland is not part of the EU CFP, we follow closely developments that take place within the EU in this area, since we are dealing with common aims and similar methodologies. In fact, Iceland´s economy is so heavily dependent on fish resources, that we need to seek any means to make improvements in managing local harvested fish stocks. We simply cannot afford to make it wrong ! And although solutions that are being developed elsewhere will most likely not unchanged fit our situation, they may very well do so when modified and adjusted. We also believe some lesson can be taken from Iceland to help improve the situation elsewhere.

Later today and tomorrow you will have the opportunity to learn more and discuss various aspects of the Icelandic fishing industry, management and science. We Icelanders, have to be frank with you that we have numerous unresolved problems to address. Nevertheless, we find ourselves making steady progress. No doubt, the close cooperation between scientists, managers and stakeholders is of importance here. Although Jóhann and his colleagues at the Marine Research Institute may sometimes find themselves in a rather hostile and ignorant debate about facts and figures. I believe it is correct to say that in few places science-based management of the fish resources is as widely accepted an approach as in Iceland. While stakeholders may sometimes take a strong course regarding some aspects of the fisheries management and regarding the current status of the stocks, they will usually at the end of the day, agree upon the necessity of scientific guidance in managing the stocks.

This of course is best reflected in the fact that in recent years the scientific advise is followed very closely by authorities with very few exceptions. This is not because we believe scientists are always right, certainly you are not. We continuously consult information from fishermen and operators to reflect on the situation. But we have literally speaking only one choice, i.e. to base our management on scientific findings, where we naturally enough make the claim that our scientists are in close contact with the fishermen on the grounds as a standard part of their daily routine. And we need to acknowledge the difficulty of the task to estimate and predict the productivity of the fish stocks and need therefore secure the necessary resources to support high quality scientific research that may be able to secure results that are of sufficient quality that will help us safeguard the fish stocks for the benefit of well managed fishing industries. We simply need to make every effort to maintain high-level research into the fish resources if we are to stick to our duties towards future generations. I believe EFARO is important platform to help the participating organisations, that all play principal role in their country, to make progress in this area.

Ladies and gentlemen.
After you have delivered an important contribution under the EU framework programme in recent years, I understand you are opening for a new EFARO era, where you choose to stand on your own feet in your efforts for continued cooperation and coordination of the work of the directors of fisheries and aquaculture organisations. Such independent organisation is important with respect to support to member countries of EFARO that are dealing with scientific/strategic matters related to fisheries and aquaculture. And we can say it was time for the pup to leave the nest and obtain independence. I am very pleased that Iceland is contributing to this work with direct involvement in your organisation and wish you a successful founding meeting of the renewed EFARO and I wish your organisation a prosperous future.

Ladies and gentlemen,
I hereby declare the opening of the 16th EFARO meeting.

Thank you.