On January 16, 2026, the Nord Fiskarlag, the Norwegian Coastal Fishermen's Association and the Norwegian Pelagic Association reported the Norwegian Navy to the police for the sinking of the decommissioned frigate KNM Bergen. The three organisations stated the vessel was scuttled in the Svensgrunnen fishing ground off Senja.
The report filed by the groups alleged violations of sections 78 and 79 of the Pollution Control Act regarding illegal pollution and waste management. Furthermore, the organisations cited section 28 of the Marine Resources Act, which concerns unnecessarily leaving objects on the seabed that can harm marine life.
The groups claimed the presence of the wreck could result in ghost fishing while damaging fishing gear, hindering harvesting and endangering vessels.
According to the organisations, the Navy sank KNM Bergen on September 3, 2025 during a weapons exercise. The report stated that the action was taken without permission from the pollution control authority and was to the detriment of biodiversity and the environment.
The areas where the wreck is located have historically been used by the purse seine and trawl fleet. The organisations wrote that coastal fishermen will lose an important ground, which, “may result in them increasing their expenses to find equally suitable fishing spots further away.”
The complaint sent to the Finnsnes Police Station in Troms stated that the Navy’s actions, “must be considered clearly negligent.”