Norwegian industry dismayed at Fisheries Minister’s dismissal

Both the seafood industry and a number of fellow politicians from the north of Norway  have reacted with dismay over the surprise sacking of Fisheries Minister Bjørnar Skjæran yesterday.

This important post has been handed to 39-year old Cecilie Myerseth, who is a professional psychologist but who had been a Labour fishery spokesperson in the Storting.

Many people are mystified as why someone who, they argue, has performed well in difficult circumstances and who made it clear he didn’t want to go, should have faced the axe in such a brutal manner.

Seafood Norway CEO Geir Ove Ystmark, said his organisation had a sound and constructive working relationship with Skjæran, despite the fact that they and the government had strongly disagreed about, among other things, the new land rent tax on aquaculture.

He had always been available for talks despite those differences, he added. He hoped for the same with the new minister.

Kåre Heggebø leader of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association told the state broadcaster NRK that news of Skjæran’s departure “…came like lightning from the blue.”

He said:” Our experience was that Bjørnar was a good man for the industry. He was in the final phase of laying the foundations for fishing, hopefully for a long time to come. That is why we are surprised he is being replaced now.”

Mona Nilsen, leader of Nordland Labour Party, was more forthright. “What is happening now is completely incomprehensible,” she told NRK.

She added: “He was certainly someone who knows the region, delivered on many important issues for Nordland and should have continued in government.”

Nordland had lost a good minister and there was now no-one from that region in the government, she said.