Landningsskyldigheten

Landningsskyldigheten, often translated as landing obligation or landing duty, is a principle in fisheries management. It mandates that all quota species caught must be brought ashore and counted against the relevant quota. This means fishermen are not allowed to discard any catch of species for which they have a quota.

The primary goal of the landing obligation is to end the practice of discarding unwanted or excess fish. Previously, fishermen sometimes threw back dead or dying fish because they exceeded their quota, or because the fish were of low commercial value, or because they were caught accidentally. This practice was seen as a waste of valuable resources and harmful to fish populations.

By requiring all catches to be landed, the landing obligation aims to provide a more accurate picture of the total catch, which is crucial for setting sustainable fishing quotas. It also incentivizes fishermen to improve their fishing methods to avoid catching unwanted species. Furthermore, it ensures that all fish caught contribute to the economic return of the fishery.

Implementing the landing obligation has presented challenges, including the need for improved monitoring and control, the development of markets for less commercially valuable species, and adjustments to fishing gear and practices. However, it is considered a cornerstone of modern, sustainable fisheries management in many regions.