MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

No licence to krill trawl creates new partnerships

Five Norwegian companies, presently unlicenced to trawl for krill in Antarctica, have had their requests to do so turned down by the Norwegian Directorare of Fisheries. The five companies locked out of said fishing are Andre VÃÂ¥gsholm, Henning Veibust, Norway Krill Company Ltd, Olympic/Stig Invest and the Fish Group of Norway.

As the news made headlines in Norway, it was reported that a krill project involving the use of one or more Dutch-controlled pelagic trawlers was underway. Falling small pelagic fish prices have forced vessel owners to consider alternative operations although it has not been confirmed if any contact existed between Norwegian and Dutch interests at this stage. It is highly likely, however, that some of the companies who did not receive licenses from Norway fully intended to operate krill trawlers under non-Norwegian flags. One of these companies is Norway Krill Company. If this or any other Norwegian company had decided to operate in Antarctica, the most logical country of the the flag the vessel would carry would be of Vanuatu. By using a Dutch-owned vessel, the operation would draw less attention than such operation in the Norwegian media. The Norwegian government very much discourages any fishing operation where domestic-controlled vessels operate under another flag of convenience. The pelagic trawlers operated by some Dutch can be converted to krill trawling with relative ease as they already keep a large storage for catch and factory space which can be converted to oil extraction and meal production. A further fall in small pelagic fish prices in West Africa may persuade some Dutch-controlled trawlers to convert to krill trawling. Norwegian groups left out by the Norwegian government and Dutch trawler operators would therefore have found themselves on a common ground of interest. Currently, there are only five vessels licenced to trawl for krill in the CCAMLR-area, CCAMLR information reveals. This are two vessels from South Korea, and one each from Japan, Norway and Poland. Norway has issued licences for another three vessels to krill fish. These, however, are not ready for operation yet, and so the CCAMLR has yet to officially hand over their licences. Vessels currently licenced to harvest krill in the CCAMLR-area: Vessel name - Country - Call sign - Duration of Licence Niitaka MaruJapan JFUJ 01 Sep 07 - 31 Aug 08 Dongsan HoSouth Korea 6NQW 26 Mar 03 - 25 Mar 08 Insung HoSouth Korea 6LZT 26 Mar 03 - 25 Mar 08 Saga SeaNorway LNSK 01 Dec 07 - 30 Nov 08 Source:FIS