The pelagic trawler Jupiter left Peterhead harbour still carrying the fish. (Photo: Faxi blog)

Fishers block Faroese vessel from unloading catch

UNITED KINGDOM
Thursday, August 19, 2010, 03:00 (GMT + 9)

Skippers and crewmen got locked in a stand-off on Tuesday with a Faroese vessel at a Scottish north-eastern port.

Over 50 protesters pitched up at Peterhead harbour as the Faroese crew of the Jupiter tried to unload more than 1,000 tonnes of mackerel. In the end, the Jupiter left the harbour still carrying the fish.

Local fishers are turning ever angrier that the Faroe Islands and Iceland have unilaterally raised their mackerel quotas despite international agreements. Industry leaders in the European Union (EU) and Norway worry this action could threaten mackerel stocks and livelihoods.

Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association chief executive Ian Gatt, who partook in yesterday’s protest, explained it was “born out of frustration” and accused the Faroe Islands of acting “wholly irresponsibly” in raising its 2010 quota.

“The way the Faroese are behaving could have very serious implications for the pelagic industry as a whole,” he warned. “Mackerel is our most important fish in terms of the pelagic species, so without that the industry just simply could not survive.”

Gatt highlighted that the protest was peaceful and the police confirmed there were no arrests.

While the boat was still docked, Jupiter skipper Emil Pedersen opined that any resolution of the quota quarrel should originate from the authorities -- not fishers.

“This is not their job,” he said. “It is their job to fish like it is my job to fish.”

“We have good fish on board that will become fishmeal or oil if we can’t get it landed. That is a waste of perfectly good mackerel,” Pedersen continued.

Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said Scottish fishers have the support of many in their frustration.

“I have now written twice to Commissioner Damanaki (EU fisheries chief Maria Damanaki) asking that the action taken by Iceland and the Faroe Isles be condemned, and for the European Commission (EC) to take a proactive stance,” he claimed, The Press and Journal reports.

Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) Chief Executive Bertie Armstrong said the latest protest reflects “the real anger on the quayside”.

“A stock that has been carefully nurtured and sustainably harvested by our fishermen is potentially being put in jeopardy by the irresponsible actions of Iceland and the Faroes. It is vital both countries return to the fold of sensible fisheries management based on existing international agreement that ensures the mackerel uptake in the future is at a sustainable level,” he stressed.

Norway already banned landings of mackerel by Icelandic and Faroese vessels and has requested the EU follow suit.

The European Association of Fish Producers Organisations (EAFPO) said the two countries acted “outrageously” by securing their quotas of 130,000 and 85,000 tonnes, respectively.

Related articles:

- Faroes justify their mackerel quota
- Iceland, Faroes' mackerel quotas threaten Scottish fishery

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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