Sámi Parliament calls for increased cod quotas

The Sámi Parliament (Sametinget) is calling for an increase in cod quotas allocated to Sea Sámi fishing areas. The Sámi Council reports that participation in the Sea Sámi fishing scheme has surged, with the number of vessels increasing from approximately 460 in 2022 to over 1,000 in 2025.

However, this increased participation has resulted in the quota per individual fisher dropping from eight tons to three tons over three years. The Council argues that the current allocation of 3,000 tons of cod is insufficient to sustain livelihoods. They are advocating for the scheme to be renamed the ‘Sámi fishing rights quota’ to better reflect its legal basis.

Furthermore, the Council emphasizes that geographic boundaries for the quota scheme should be based on actual Sámi usage and settlement patterns rather than municipal language choices or regional development zones. They also warn against new residency or sea-time requirements that could hinder the recruitment of young fishers or those combining fishing with agriculture.