Danish fishermen express grave concern over stalled ‘blue tripartite’ talks on bottom trawling and marine protection
Blue Tripartite Vision Collides With Bottom Trawling Debate
The Danish Fisheries Association is advocating for a ‘blue tripartite’ agreement involving the Danish Nature Conservation Association and the government.
They hope this move will provide long-term stability and a clear framework for Danish commercial fishing. However, this aspiration is met with grave concern from fishermen, as fundamental disagreements, particularly over the use of bottom trawls in protected marine areas, currently leave the parties “miles apart.”
Fishermen’s Vision For Stability
Speaking to the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR), Kenn Skau Fischer, director of the Danish Fisheries Association, emphasised the critical need for a collaborative approach.
“Like agriculture, fishing in Denmark also needs us to create such a blue tripartite, where we think a little more long-term, and where it also allows for stability around the framework for Danish commercial fishing.”
The association aims to propose a balanced approach between exploiting marine resources and protecting the marine environment. A key component of their proposal involves the clear designation of “core areas” where fishermen can operate. This would include areas where bottom trawls, a fishing net dragged across the seabed, could still be used.
In return, the association expresses willingness to help identify and agree on entirely closed sea areas. They also propose other zones where they would voluntarily refrain from bottom trawling. This proactive stance underscores the industry’s deep concern for its future viability and the need for predictable operating conditions.
Environmentalists Resist Bottom Trawling
Despite the fishermen’s overtures, the Danish Nature Conservation Association remains hesitant. According to Maria Reumert Gjerding, president of the Danish Nature Conservation Association, the most significant disagreements centre on whether bottom-trawling gear should be permitted in protected seas.
“It’s so fundamental, so we have to work on overcoming that first. That’s why I don’t think there’s a basis for creating a blue tripartite at this time,” Gjerding stated.
This unwavering position from environmentalists represents a significant hurdle, intensifying the fishermen’s anxieties about their access to traditional fishing grounds.
Impasse Over Protected Areas
The government has already moved to designate 37 protected areas where bottom trawling is slated for prohibition from 1 July 2025. However, the Danish Fisheries Association argues these areas must be “revisited” before a final assessment on their closure can be made. This request is firmly rejected by the Danish Nature Conservation Association.
Maria Reumert Gjerding expressed frustration with the ongoing discussions, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
“It shows that even where we make a microscopic effort for nature, we have to discuss whether it can even make sense,” she commented.
Gjerding added, “It illustrates very well that if you’re talking about a tripartite agreement, we need to go to a completely different scale and scope before it makes sense for us to go into space. Otherwise, I honestly think we’re just going to waste each other’s time.”
The current deadlock over these crucial issues signifies a grave concern for Danish fishermen, as their ability to secure long-term fishing rights and sustainable practices hinges on resolving these deep-seated disagreements.
Source: DR
