Discussed the implementation of this year’s winter fishing

As in previous years, the seafood industry expects a large indentation of foreign labour for this year’s winter fishing. At the same time, the situation ahead of winter fishing in 2022 is different than last year. The border crossings are open, but at the same time there is high infection internally in Norway.

– I am very pleased after the meeting today, where my impression is that the industry is well equipped for this year’s winter fishing. They bring with them the experience from last year, and there is good dialogue between industry, county governors, involved municipalities and national authorities. The most important thing is that the industry is able to maintain good infection control and that the good dialogue between the authorities and industry continues,” says Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Bjørnar Skjæran.

At the meeting, the County Governor of Troms and Finnmark, the County Governor of Nordland, seafood Norway, the seafood companies, the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association, the Norwegian Coastal Fisheries Association, the Seafood Council, the Norwegian Raw Fish Association and The Norwegian Wild Fish Association participated. In addition, representatives from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Care Services participated.

-I am also pleased that we have put in place increased test capacity and access to quick tests. I have engaged specifically to put that in place, and extra quick tests have now been distributed to the municipalities. In the future, more tests will be sent out in the time ahead so that there will be good test capacity to handle testing of those who travel in to work during winter fishing,” says Bjørnar Skjæran.

The Government has arranged to acquire 10 million tests that will be delivered in the new year. When it became clear that the need for tests was greater, an agreement was reached for the rapid acquisition of 15 million quick tests (13.5 million self-tests and 1.5 million tests for professional use). Efforts are now being made to ensure that distribution of the tests arriving on an ongoing basis is distributed to the municipalities, and that the available tests are prioritised on different groups, such as people in critical social functions.

In order to ensure the safe implementation of winter fishing, an action plan was drawn up before Christmas that is coordinated by the Directorate for Safety and Emergency Preparedness. The plan is dynamic and updated continuously. The plan includes measures to promote good cooperation, dialogue and other remedial measures in connection with winter fishing. Work on the plan started as early as November 2021.

The original press release can be found on the Norwegian Government website