The Court of Appeal supports Norway's view of the Svalbard Treaty

The Norwegian Borgarting Court of Appeal upholds the Norwegian state's view that the geographical scope of the Svalbard Treaty gives Norway permission to punish illegal crab fisheries, writes NTB. 

"We are very pleased with the Court of Appeal's ruling, which provides solid support for the Norwegian authorities' well-established view of the Svalbard Treaty's geographical scope", says lawyer Marius Emberland at the Government Attorney to Rett24.

The Court of Appeal upheld the Norwegian state's case against the Latvian shipping company Sia North Star Ltd. The company believes that the Svalbard Treaty applies to the entire shelf and not just within the twelve-mile limit. They therefore filed a civil lawsuit against the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries.

The Norwegian state holds that Norway, according to the Svalbard Treaty, have the right to punish both Norwegian and foreign crab fishermen, who without permission have posted crab traps on the Norwegian shelf in the area around Svalbard.

The company's legal representative Hallvard Østgård notifies the case will be appealed to the Supreme Court.