Fishing activities on an Icelandic trawler. (Photo: Stock File)
Fishermen put off strike after contract with association
ICELAND
Tuesday, November 15, 2016, 02:50 (GMT + 9)
After signing a two year contract between the Icelandic Fishermen’s Association and Fisheries Iceland, Icelandic fishermen decided to put off the strike they had started on Thirsday until Tuesday at 8:00 pm.
The agreement considers the development of a year-long study on the safety and work hours of fishermen on pelagic fishing vessels and wet fish trawlers.
The fishermen decided to go on strike due to reduced earnings as well as health and safety concerns about deck hand numbers on vessels.
The contract has not been signed by two fishermen’s associations, with a total of 900 members but negotiations will continue this week, RÚV reports.
The settled document will be presented to fishermen and online voting will take place.
Referring to the strike, Chief executive of market operator Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, Martyn Boyers explained that because of the way the system works, the sector will not be affected this week but he claimed it will do so the week after.
According to the executive, smaller operators will be the ones who feel it most, with the market the principal source of supply for them to do their business.
Boyers stated that while prices were not spiking, there has been a strong run, partly attributed to Brexit and the strength of the Icelandic Krona and Norwegian Krona against the pound.
"It will be struggle if it [the strike] continues because with 75 per cent of supply there is not that much we can do. It will open the door for others, Norwegian, Irish and Scottish fish will come to fill a bit of the gap, but it won't fill all the gap," he pointed out.
For his part, Simon Smith, chief executive of Icelandic Seachill, the Icelandic-owned entirely Grimsby operated business, said: "There is no impact for us, this has been developing for a long time and we have planned accordingly so our customers remain in full supply."
Related article:
- Fishermen threaten to call a strike
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