Örvar Marteinsson, who chairs the Association of Smaller Fishing Vessels (Samtök smærri útgerða), has called on the Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister of Industries and Innovation to loosen restrictions on fishing gear within Iceland’s krókaaflamark quota system. He said increased freedom on gear would help smaller companies compete and grow, according to mbl.is.
Marteinsson said that if the rules about what equipment can be used were relaxed, it could improve business prospects for smaller operators in Iceland’s fishing industry. He highlighted gear rules as a key factor limiting the ability of small companies to compete and develop under the existing quota system.
Background: Iceland’s fishing quota system
The krókaaflamark system is a specific quota arrangement in Iceland intended to allocate fishing rights and manage resources among smaller vessels. The Association of Smaller Fishing Vessels represents the interests of these operators, who often experience tighter operational constraints. Marteinsson’s appeal was addressed directly to the ministers responsible for infrastructure and industrial innovation, in a push for more flexible rules tailored to the needs of small-scale businesses.
Sources
- mbl.is (first reported) in Icelandic
