Heated debate over proposed fishing fee hike went late into the night

Minister of Industry Hanna Katrín Friðriksson presented a revised bill yesterday proposing a significant increase in fishing fees, a move that could double the current charges for the fisheries sector. The bill introduces a new method for calculating the value of marine products, which would serve as the basis for determining fees.

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Revised Fishing Fee Bill introduced in Parliament

According to the minister, this “correction” aims to reflect the real value of the catch, ensuring greater fairness and aligning the system more closely with public interest.

Divided opinions within the government

Government members expressed sharply divergent views. Some downplayed the impact of the bill, saying it introduced few changes, while others warned it could seriously damage the fishing industry. One government member even suggested that sanctions could be applied to fishing companies if they resorted to job cuts or rationalization in response to the fee hike.

Opposition pushes back

Bergþór Ólason, parliamentary leader of the Centre Party, was the first from the opposition to respond. He criticized the short consultation period—only one week—and noted that while the minister claimed most comments were positive, the substantive ones were critical. He also accused the government of concealing the fact that this was, in effect, a tax increase.

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Proposed changes could have yielded an additional ISK 10 b last year

Ingibjörg Isaksen, parliamentary leader of the Progressive Party, echoed these concerns, arguing that the proposed changes would disrupt rural communities, the fishing industry, and fish processing operations.

Sigurjón Þórðarson, MP for the People's Party and chair of the Industrial Affairs Committee, drew a firm line: he claimed opponents of the bill were driven by narrow vested interests, while supporters were guided by fairness and public interest.

Accusations of fiscal mismanagement

Jens Garðar Helgason, deputy chairman of the Independence Party, took a combative stance in the debate. He criticized the government for lacking a vision for the future, claiming it spends beyond its means and relies too heavily on tax increases instead of fostering value creation.

“It would be sad if this were the only solution the government could offer,” Helgason remarked.

Debate continued late Into the night

Parliamentarians debated the bill late into the evening, underscoring the political and economic weight of the issue and the deep divisions it has revealed within both the government and the opposition.