Iceland's EU referendum: Fishing industry at the heart of a divisive debate

At the Tor fish processing plant in Hafnarfjörður, workers are busy processing cod, haddock, and plaice, destined for export. This scene underscores the critical importance of the fishing industry, which is widely recognized as the lifeblood of Iceland's economy and national identity.

Ironically, many workers at the plant, located near Reykjavík, hail from countries like Poland and Lithuania, and even from Grimsby in the UK, a key destination for much of the processed catch. Yet, the industry's future is inextricably linked to the upcoming referendum on whether Iceland should revive its EU accession negotiations.

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Iceland survives on fisheries. This is the backbone to Iceland's economy. Even though Iceland is a small country of less than 400,000 people, Iceland would dominate fisheries within the European Union.

Eirikur Bergmann, Professor of Politics at Bifröst University, states that fisheries are fundamental to Iceland's survival. He argues that even as a small nation, Iceland could dominate fisheries within the European Union. Arnar Atlason, Managing Director of Tor, acknowledges the significant opportunities presented by greater access to Europe's internal market.

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A lot of people here in Iceland are still undecided. Anyone saying they are decided and have been for a long time is lying. There is a great deal of underlying opportunities and threats. We live in a very changed world.

However, Atlason also voices the deep-seated concerns about protecting Iceland's primary resource. "Our resource is what is keeping us alive on this island here up in the North Atlantic. So we have to protect our resources. We have to make the most of them and be careful with any agreements we do," he stated. He notes that many Icelanders remain undecided, with "great deal of underlying opportunities and threats" to consider in a "very changed world."

While the referendum has been framed by some in the context of geopolitical shifts, including former US President Donald Trump's rhetoric regarding Greenland, domestic politics appear to be the primary driver. The debate is largely internally focused, predating recent international tensions, and reflects a complex balancing act between economic integration and the safeguarding of national assets.

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But then again, our resource is what is keeping us alive on this island here up in the North Atlantic. So we have to protect our resources. We have to make the most of them and be careful with any agreements we do.