Fisheries inspectors from across the EU and the Nordic region are gathering this week in Gothenburg for a three-day conference, and are joined by Coastguard officers from Scotland, Germany and Sweden with inspection vessels Jura, Meerkatze and KBV-032.
"We gather to exchange experiences about how the countries work with fisheries control, mainly concerning the landing obligation that applies to professional fishermen in all EU countries," said Ingemar Berglund, head of the Fisheries Management Department at the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SWaM).
"One of the questions at the conference here in Gothenburg is how to interact and make control effective."
So far, there have been two meetings for fisheries inspectors in the EU and Norway in the field of monitoring, control and supervision, one in Bergen 2010 and one in Scotland 2011. This year, Sweden, through the SWaM, is hosting the meeting. The meeting also includes inspectors from the coastal states of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
"It is very good to be able to gather all countries that have professional fishing in the same area. The more countries control and rules can be synchronised with each other, the better for both fishermen and the inspectors," says Ingemar Berglund.
The fishing inspectors and the three vessels are gathering in Skandia Harbour in Gothenburg for three days, 13-15 June, with 60 participants.
