Alþjóðleg ráðstefna um dragnótaveiðar, 29. maí 2008

Opening address of Mr Einar Kristinn Guðfinnsson,

Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture of Iceland

International Workshop on Seine Net Fishing,

Keflavík, Iceland, 29 May 2008

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to address this interesting meeting that has the scope to discuss various matters  related to the operation and performance of  Danish-seine. Here in Iceland, the effects of the Danish-seine on benthic life and the fish stocks have been disputed for many decades. In fact, I believe it is correct to say that there has hardly been held a meeting related to marine resources, where these matters have not been debated.

One of the first attempts to discuss the Danish-seine on a scientific basis here in Iceland was undertaken by Dr. Árni Friðriksson, a fisheries biologist and Director General of the then Fisheries Department of The University of Iceland, and which for a long time was a Secretary General of ICES (The International Council for the exploration of the Sea). In the year 1932 Dr Friðriksson published a paper entitled “The Icelandic plaice fishery and the Danish-seine” where he discusses the potential use of the Danish-seine for our fisheries. Here he explains the criticism that had been raised against the use of Danish-seine in Icelandic waters and his reasoning that where Danish-seine had been in use it seems not to have caused damages to the benthos and that the benthic animals seem to sustain the Danish-seine fishery. Dr Friðriksson hoped “that every person does understand” from his argumentation “that Danish-seine can not to any great extant damage the benthic communities”. Regarding the effects  on juvenile fish he considered “even though Danish-seine fishery was to be permitted within our territorial waters most of the fish stocks exploited for human consumption would not have  to worry about the fate of their offspring”. In conclusion he states that at least the Danish-seine  would be less harmful for juveniles fish than the bottom-trawl.

The objections against the Danish-seine did not stop with Dr Friðriksson’s thorough argumentation and ever since Danish-seine fishery has by many people been considered causing damages for both benthic life and the fish stocks. In the late 70’s of last century  Mr Aðalsteinn Sigurðsson and Guðni Þorsteinsson of the Marine Research Institute, Reykjavik led an experimental study on the function of the Danish-seine and the behaviour of fish in the vicinity of the gear. The experiments showed that a Danish-seine with 170 mm mesh caught a lot less of juveniles fish than comparative bottom-trawl and in 1978 Sigurðsson reported in an article in Ægir that Danish-seine “protects juvenile fish better than most other fishing-gear that are used in Icelandic waters”. However, he mentions that the Danish-seine does harm the halibut stock because two year old halibut doesn’t escape through the 170 mm mesh of the Danish-seine, while he also points out that a young halibut is caught by all fishing-gear. Aðalsteinn reflected on studies that had been done abroad on the influences of towed gears on the benthos and concluded that the Danish-seine caused limited damage on most benthic animals.  As for advantage of the Danish-seine he mentioned direct observations in Faxaflói where “The seine itself floated lightly over the benthos and touched it only now and again with the fall and rise of the waves. Only in a few places could there be seen little marks in the sand”.

So many words, but we still today are debating the Danish-seine. This led last year Mr Hrafnkell Eiríksson and Jónbjörn Pálsson at the Marine Research Institute, Reykjavik, to compile available information on the development of the Danish-seine as a fishing-gear and the development of Danish-seine operation in Icelandic waters from the beginning of its use. The report  points out that the length of the trawling-robes is usually greater than during the mid 1990’s, also rubber disks or stonestilts have been taken into use on the footropes. However, the interest amongst vessel owners for conducting Danish-seine fishery  is at present a lot less than it was about 10 years ago so the fishing effort has gone down. The catch in the Danish-seine fishery has also decreased since it was at a peak in the years 1996-1997. That mainly results from a less catch of dab and rough dab even though the catch of round fish has increased, mostly because of increased catch of haddock almost all around the country. This is reflected in an increased round fish catch in almost every cast while the  flatfish catch has been decreasing. This development in fishery, for example the increase in abundance of haddock in near shore areas north of the country, has resulted in continued dispute on the use of Danish-seine in competition with longline- and jigging in relatively shallow water. Some people have stated the need for further strengthening  the legislation on the allowed size of  the Danish-seine boats and also the design or size of Danish-seines. However, in this context it must be stated,  that according to research conducted by the Marine Research Institute small fish is not caught to a lesser degree by the Danish-seine than by other fishing gear, except for gill nets.

The above mentioned sums up the development of the use of Danish-seine in Icelandic waters and also demonstrates quite clearly the fact that the dispute mainly concerns the nature of different fishing-gears, i.e. it sort of competition between groups of stake holders using different fishing-gear to catch a limited resource in a limited ocean area. Also the dispute has emotional aspects. Thus a housewife or a small boat owner in a given village does not like when they see an efficient Danish-seine trawler sweeping the sea floor right in front of their kitchen window or, “almost in their back yard“ as we sometimes say. But of course we are in favour of catching the fish with efficient and economic gear without damaging the environment and in harmony with other users of the resource.

Still there are people who believe the Danish-seine is an evil tool. However, with present-day technology there is more hope than before that we will be able to throw a light on the true nature of this matter. With this in mind I have secured financial support to the Marine Research Institute this summer for undertaking a detailed comparative study in two fjords in north Iceland, i.e. in an area that has for a long time been closed for Danish-seine fishing on the one hand and in an area where Danish-seine has been used over a prolonged period of time. Through such investigations and other related work we should be able to approach the answer to the question of flaws and advantages of the Danish-seine and therefore avoid unnecessary conflicts. Such research should also help us to identify and resolve issues that may emerge and in general help improving the fishing gear, which is in common  interest for all of us  working in  the fishing industry.

I am confident that a conference like this, where exchange of views and information takes place will help constructive dialogue on this long debated fishing gear. I wish you a constructive and successful meeting and look forward learning about your conclusions.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is a true honour for me to formally open this international symposium on the Danish-seine.

Thank you.