Icelandic Association of Fishing Vessel Owners Against EU Membership
The Icelandic Association of Fishing Vessel Owners (LÍÚ) has come down firmly against possible EU membership for Iceland, stating that by becoming part of the European Union, Iceland would sacrifice its rights to legislate its own resources. These powers would be transferred to Brussels as part of EU membership, while Iceland would have miniscule voting rights within Europe.
LÍÚ states that as an EU member, Iceland would also give up its rights to fish straddling stocks, including capelin, blue whiting, redfish, Greenland halibut, herring, mackerel and other species. Around 30% of Icelandic fisheries are conducted on these straddling stocks that are shared with other nations.
The LÍÚ points out that by joining the EU, there would be no other option but to allow its fisheries to become governed under the Common Fisheries Policy. It says that he terrible track record of the CFP has led to fisheries across the EU being in a sad state. In spite of repeated attempts, the EU Commission has not been able to reverse this trend. The CFP has been repeatedly criticised, both from within the EU and without. Monitoring results is in the hands of individual states. It is well known that enforcement is weak, offences are frequent and penalties are light. Over many decades it has been repeatedly stated that the CFP needs a complete rethink.
The Federation of Icelandic Fishing Vessel Owners (LIU) was founded on January 17th 1939. The founders’ purpose was to represent all Icelandic fishing vessel owners in one unified organisation in order to safeguard their mutual interests. The main functions of LIU are to speak on behalf of fishing vessel owners, promote progressive developments within the field of fisheries, negotiate salaries and catch premiums with the trade unions and to look out for the economic, financial, legal, technical and social interests of fishing vessel owners.
For more information visit: The Icelandic Association of Fishing Vessel Owners (LÍÚ) There’s also an excellent booklet that you can download from the LÍÚ website called Responsible Resource Management.
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