Regulation concerning fisheries at Faroe Bank criticized for lack of clarity and legal robustness

The regulation concerning fisheries at the Faroe Bank from last year has been criticized for its lack of clarity and legal robustness.

The representative from the parliament has reviewed a complaint regarding the “time-limited special arrangement for demersal fish fishing at the Faroe Bank in 2023.” The complaint was submitted by a company whose vessel, categorized in group 5, was not allowed to fish at the Faroe Bank this year.

The complainant argued that the regulation was unjust, unreasonable, and discriminatory. They referenced sections 1 and 2 of the Maritime Resources Act as the basis for the regulation.

The representative pointed out that when the parliament specified an explicit provision for the Faroe Bank in section 2, it would be the conventional legal interpretation that section 1 does not apply to this particular area.

Furthermore, the representative highlighted that the regulation defined the term “fishing license” differently from its definition in the Maritime Resources Act.

The representative has recommended that the Ministry of Fisheries and Transport consider removing section 1 as a justification in the regulation governing the Faroe Bank. They urged the need for future regulations to be based on the definitions and principles surrounding fishing and licensing as outlined in the Maritime Resources Act.