Hanna Katrín Friðriksson: “This Correction Stands”

Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, chair of the Independence Party, criticized the government's handling of changes to fishing fees during a spirited exchange in Alþingi yesterday, accusing it of poor administration and a lack of transparency.

Minister of Industries, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, firmly rejected the accusations, stating:

“This correction stands. It is well executed and in the public interest.”

Article on Iceland Monitor

Government’s plan to raise fishing fees faces criticism from Fisheries Industry

Warnings ignored, says Hafsteinsdóttir

In her remarks, Hafsteinsdóttir referenced newly revealed memoranda, which she claimed showed that government experts had warned against introducing the bill without proper analysis and stakeholder consultation.

“It was repeatedly pointed out that assumptions were uncertain, data were lacking, and proposals required substantive debate,” she said. “Yet the bill entered consultation for only seven working days, and crucial information was withheld from stakeholders until after the comment period had closed.”

She also criticized the government for releasing the expert memoranda only after repeated media requests and a ruling by an appeals committee.

“This raises serious questions about the process, especially among coastal communities, local officials, and those whose livelihoods depend on the fishing industry,” Hafsteinsdóttir said.

She concluded by accusing the minister of ignoring expert advice and closing the consultation prematurely.

“This isn’t just poor administration — it’s irresponsibility toward one of the pillars of Icelandic industry.”

Minister: The process was transparent

In response, Friðriksson defended the process, emphasizing that the memoranda cited were produced rapidly during government formation talks and were always intended to be followed by more detailed work.

“The work continued in the ministry after I took office, and a consultation process began promptly,” she said. “A clear timeline exists, and concerns raised in the memoranda were addressed.”

She noted that only two fish species were used in the fee calculation — those with sufficient market activity to ensure reliable pricing. She also pointed out that advice from Norwegian economists confirmed the use of Norwegian pricing as a fair market benchmark.

Article on Iceland Monitor

Government’s plan to raise fishing fees faces criticism from Fisheries Industry

“This was always about correcting the price basis — to ensure that fishing fees reflect the real value of Iceland’s national resources. This is a public interest adjustment,” Friðriksson said.

She also criticized interest groups for demanding the release of confidential internal documents.

“We shared what we could — not internal working papers that are common in parliamentary processes.”

Accusations of ambiguity and exclusion

Hafsteinsdóttir pushed back, calling the minister’s statements misleading.

“This isn’t a correction — it’s a tax increase on a key national industry,” she said. “Reconciliation in the fisheries sector cannot be built on one-sided decisions and closed-door processes.”

She argued that the Reform Party’s calls for reconciliation and trust ring hollow when the approach taken was, in her words, “marked by ambiguity, a lack of information, and exclusion of key stakeholders.”

“If the goal is trust and unity, why was the process set up in a way that virtuallyguaranteed suspicion?”

“We corrected the pricing model”

Friðriksson countered that the disagreement may stem from differing views on what constitutes consultation and fairness.

She reminded the chamber that the previous coalition, including the Independence Party, had introduced a 5 billion ISK fishing fee increase in the budget with no consultation or analysis.

“Where was the consultation then? Our approach was a correction — not a sudden revenue grab,” she said. “We corrected the pricing model rather than saying: ‘Oops, we need 5 billion — let’s hit the fishing industry.’”