Norway: Tensions rise between fishing and oil industries

A feverish quest for new sources of oil, fuelled by high oil prices, is sparking territorial battles between Norwegian fishing interests and oil exploration firms searching for new reserves in the North and Norwegian
Last year, three fishing boats tried to prevent the seismic vessel Polshkov from conducting oil exploration in the seas off Vesteralen.

Skirmishes have been taking place for months off the coast of Norway, as fishing vessels and seismic vessels try to work in the same areas. Last year, three fishing boats tried to prevent a seismic vessel from conducting oil exploration in the seas off Vesteralen.
Newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv reported earlier this month that offshore territorial battles have grotten so intense that oil service- and exploration firms have started paying fishermen large sums to leave the area. Not everyone is agreeing to do so.

Many fishermen claim the oil exploration firms are simply trying to bribe them to give up their livelihoods. They also complain that the seismic activity is scaring fish stocks away from formerly rich fields.

A fishing organization in western Norway (Sogn og Fjordane Fiskarlag) reported four cases in January of oil firms trying to force them out of prime fishing areas because their boats interfered with seismic exploration. Most fishing vessels refuse to leave, fueling conflicts.

Aftenposten