Norway cooperates with INTERPOL to stop fisheries crime

From the left; Gunnar Stølsvik, project manager, Arne Benjaminsen, Secretary General, Liv Holmefjord, Director General of Fisheries, David Higgins, manager, INTERPOL Environmental Crime Programme.

On Tuesday INTERPOL organized an international enforcement conference related to fisheries crime. At the conference INTERPOL launched its international collaboration effort Project SCALE. The project is intended to raise awareness of fisheries crime, assess the needs of vulnerable countries, establish national security groups and conduct operations to combat criminal activities at sea.

- This is about protecting honest fishers. Corruption and crime at sea are major obstacles for developing countries who wish to establish themselves as serious fishing nations, says Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Lisbeth Berg-Hansen.

Fisheries crime in Norwegian waters has experienced a significant decline since 2006. Unfortunately there are indications that the crime has relocated, not least to the coast of West Africa. Many countries, including several African states, have shown an interest in the Norwegian model, which is a cross-departmental collaboration between fisheries authorities, the coast guard, the Norwegian Coastal Administration, customs authorities, tax authorities, the Labour Inspection Authority and the police.

- As one of the world’s leading fisheries nations, it is important for us to combat fisheries crime. INTERPOL has assumed the role as liaison, and we are very happy to share our experience and knowledge, says Minister Berg-Hansen.

Representatives of the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs participated at the conference along with ministers from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo and Costa Rica. In all, representatives from more than 60 of INTERPOL’s member countries and more than 40 international organizations and experts attended the conference, which was the first of its kind.