“Northern Norway needs an eco-crime center against fishing crime – in Sortland”

Northern Norway needs an eco-crime center against fisheries crime – in Sortland

Police, Customs and the Coast Guard have for some time reported a negative development in the frequency and extent of fishing crime. Whether it concerns the illegal discharge of fish, illegal trade or tourist fishermen who do not report catches. We must take this seriously.

Our region has historically, and in our time, been one of the country’s most important geographical areas for landing whiting. The fisheries have carried the nation forward in all ages, to which they still contribute greatly. The values ​​in the sea belong to the people, and must benefit the people. They are precious resources that build communities and create opportunities. These are resources that we must protect, take care of and develop, but perhaps just as important – do not take them for granted.

The government has strengthened its efforts against fisheries crime. Among other things, it has been decided that there will be interdisciplinary cooperation going forward to protect the community’s values ​​and prevent and prevent offenses. In the Ministry of Industry and Fisheries, they have established a separate section to follow this up. That is good, but there must also be an investment where the crime takes place, along the coast.

The coast guard is the nation’s means of monitoring fishing crime at sea. They have expertise and experience in the area, and have extended their police authority to carry out active control along the coast. In the long-term plan for the Armed Forces, the presence on Sortland is established. New vessels are being built and the Coast Guard in Sortland has extensive expertise in fisheries management. We believe this must be further developed.

The police in Vesterålen plan to build a new police station in Sortland. With the new station, there is a unique opportunity for co-location with an eco-crime center in close connection with the established environment in Sortland.

Given the government’s investment, the strengthening of the coast guard and the fact that a new police station is being built on Sortland, we believe that the conditions are right for an eco-crime center against fishing crime to be realized on Sortland. With such a resource, one will strengthen the interdisciplinary environments that already exist and work together, build expertise and strengthen efforts against fishing crime along the coast.