Ráðstefna Sjávarútvegsskóla Háskóla Sameinuðu Þjóðanna um sjálfbærni sjávarútvegs, 24. október 2008
Address by
The Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture,
Einar K. Gudfinnsson,
given at the Symposium on Sustainable Fisheries
to celebrate the10th anniversary of the
United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme.
24. October 2008
Ladies and gentlemen.
United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme celebrates it´s 10th anniversary this year. It is a great honour and privilege for me to have the opportunity to address you here on this important occasion. We certainly take pride in participating in the United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme and are most committed to its advancement.
In one of his genius novels, the Icelandic Nobel Prize winner, Halldór Kiljan Laxnes, had one of the main characters state the following, and I quote my informal translation: “What you are entrusted with - you are entrusted with” end of quote. Here the author is referring to how one shall not fail in the duties one shoulders.
To me this short but magnificent sentence contains the core of the ideology of responsibility that every fishing nation must adopt and follow. The goal of the utilization of natural resources in the interest of the nation is first and foremost twofold: first, to handle the resources cautiously; second, to utilize the resources in a manner that provides the best living standards possible.
It may be said that in the debate on the utilization of natural resources, the concept sustainability rooted itself long ago, both with respect to the natural resources on land and the ocean resources. The concept, sustainable utilization, does not mean that we should not utilize the natural resources. On the contrary, this implies cautious, sustainable utilization that provide opportunities for the creation of valuable products from natural resources that would otherwise not have yielded such valuable goods. Of course, this is a very ambitious goal and it cannot be said that mankind has always succeeded well in these matters. There are far too many examples of overexploitation of the natural resources , people not utilizing them in an appropriate manner. A nation that has the fortune of having a natural resource and is able to utilize it in a beneficial manner has many opportunities. Unfortunately, we know of several instances of nations that have extensive natural resources, yet have not managed to utilize them in a manner that serves their interests or in a responsible and credible fashion, i.e. in respect of renewable natural resources. The resources of a nation are no guarantee for it faring well.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Iceland was one of the poorest nations in Europe. The current economic crisis we are in will not change the fact that we managed to break the chains of poverty and to establish one of the most prosperous societies in the world. There were many interacting and contributing factors involved; however, one of the main reasons for this success is that the fishing industry became the driving force of the economy. The performance of the fishing industry totally determined the situation of the national economy. This did not happen by itself; instead through the sensible, moderate and responsible utilization of the marine resources. Of course, an essential part of the equation was Iceland gaining full control over its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Considering that the fisheries have been the backbone of the Icelandic economy, the focal and unavoidable point has been how it must be subject to the law of economy and market conditions and not be the recipient of state subsidies. This is why the fishing industry has had to adjust itself to the competition it has always been in at the international markets.
I have become aware in various parts of the world how Iceland is regarded to some extent as a model in terms of the utilization of the natural resources of the sea. Of course, we take pride in such praise. I wish to emphasize, nevertheless, that we can do better in many respects, in fact, much better! I am not saying this out of pure modesty - definitely not. It is my firm belief that the main reason for us generally having tried to approach our utilization of the natural resource on grounds of long-term interests, is simply that we had no other alternative. We rely and have based our livelihood on the natural resources. This despite the fact that the last half a decade or so has a bit washed us off-track by means of the bank turmoil we are in the midst of at this very moment. It is clearer than ever that our interests lie in the fish resources. It may therefore be said that we are driven more than ever by the interests entailed in carefully managing the natural resources, although there are as always different opinions as to how this is best ensured.
There is every reason to emphasize that the management and utilization of the marine resources are never an easy task and there are many factors that must be included in the equation. In utilizing the marine resources in a sensible manner, we must remember that we are not tackling situations where all factors of the equation are known - far from it! This is a complex interaction of factors that in turn are affected by various things. We are not only talking about the utilization by mankind as being the only contributing factor; we must also understand the complex interactions in the ocean ecosystem. This is why our answer is first and foremost entailed in increasing research.
In order to strengthen one fish stock, we must know how to utilize another one that may be in competition for feed, or is perhaps the basis of the feed of the stock that we want to preserve and base our livelihood on. The classic example in Iceland is the interaction between capelin and cod. The capelin is the cod’s most important forage, yet is also an important commercial stock. We manage our utilization of this stock in a manner that does not jeopardize the productivity of the cod stock. This tells us how we must always focus on many factors in our utilization of the marine resources. This, however, can only be done on the basis of the best available knowledge and expertise.
The fishing industry is, as before, the pillar of the Icelandic economy. We see this clearly now when storms are sweeping across the financial markets of the world. We regard our fishing industry as a solid industry to which major demands for yield are made as to any other field of business throughout the world.
Unfortunately, there are too many people who do not regard the fishing industry in this manner. They believe that the fishing industry may hold a social and rural developmental role only, and should therefore not be subject to the rules of the market. Such thinking entails two things: one, sentencing those working in the fishing industry to lifelong poverty, and two, the risk, as has frequently materialized, that the demands made become less and thereby people treat the resource worse than before.
This is why I believe that the fishing industry should be given the opportunity it needs for economizing and responding, thereby rendering it possible for it to be able to engage in competition. We have no choice. We must succeed in maintaining the fishing industry as a solid and prosperous industry. It is worth noting that we have succeeded in organizing the fishing industry in a manner that has made it the main driving force in improving the living conditions in Iceland over the last decades. This should not be taken for granted.
The fishing industry in too many countries is deemed as being a second-rate industry that does not compete with other industries, neither for capital nor manpower. One of the adventures during the last decades in Iceland is that the living conditions improved rapidly, not least as a result of the input of the fishing industry. One thing is clear, namely that if the fishing industry had been a burden, the living conditions in Iceland would not have improved as rapidly and steadily as they did. This is how important the fishing industry is for the national economy of Iceland.
Today the fishing industry is a knowledge based industry where we need to employ the best of the best. The technical improvements , the improved handling of the catches, market knowledge and progress in logistic, all of these factors have opened new doors to us and greatly increased the performance and yield of the fishing industry. Although the quotas have in some instances decreased; the value-creation increases. Additionally, the fishing industry has generated other industries producing top-quality technology.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In recent weeks during the economic crisis, Icelanders and some of our guests here today may have questioned the basis for our success and economic wealth. After the ongoing reorganisation of our economy and perhaps some revision of our value judgements and societal values, we will soon find out how our highly developed fishing industry will serve as a backbone in a recovering Icelandic economy.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let me express my appreciation to all those attending the Symposium on
Sustainable Fisheries and welcome you to this event. Your contribution to research and development of this industry is important and highly appreciated. I thank all those who have helped out with organising this symposium and wish you all the best. Finally, may I congratulate the staff and board of the UNU Fisheries Training Programme at their 10 years anniversary at the same time as I wish this important activity to flourish in the future for the benefit of collaborating institutions abroad and future UN fellows attending the programme.
By these words, I would like formally to open this international symposium on sustainable fisheries.
Thank you