The mackerel fishery is Scotland's most valuable. (Photo: Blog Faxi RE-9)

Faroes pressured in bilateral mackerel talks

UNITED KINGDOM
Friday, September 10, 2010, 23:40 (GMT + 9)

Scottish and UK Government officials are partaking in bilateral talks with the Faroese Government to bring the Faroe Islands to a shared agreement that would see mackerel stocks are fished sensibly. Discussions are expected to begin with Iceland later this month.

Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead asserted that the Scottish Government mainly seeks to establish a new agreement between all parties so mackerel stocks can be protected for the future.

"We need all parties around the negotiating table to find a reasonable agreement, therefore it is encouraging that a bilateral meeting between the European Union (EU) and the Faroes, with the direct involvement of Scottish Government officials, is now underway,” Lochhead said.

"However, the defiant stance of Iceland is cause for real concern. In attempting to justify their damaging unilateral actions, Iceland have only re-enforced their unwillingness to seek a meaningful compromise,” he added.

Lochhead stated that Iceland must take on a responsible approach to the vital annual negotiations in October if they are to be party to management arrangements that will protect mackerel stocks. He has kept in close touch regarding the matter with the European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki, whom he said reassured him that the EU Enlargement Commissioner considers the issue key in terms of Iceland's EU ascension negotiations.

"An acceptable resolution to the situation must be found. The very future of our mackerel stocks is at stake and the sustainable fishing practices of the Scottish industry - the first large-scale mackerel fishery in Europe to be accredited by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) - are being undermined by these irresponsible actions," he stressed.

First Minister Alex Salmond has pushed for EU officials to strongly stand up against “irresponsible” actions by the Faroes and Iceland to increase their mackerel catch limits, reports The Press & Journal.

In late July, the Faroes set a quota for mackerel of 85,000 tonnes for 2010 -- more than treble their previous total allowable catch (TAC) -- which came after Iceland’s move to give itself a unilateral quota of 130,000 tonnes.

The value to the Scottish economy of mackerel in 2009 was GBP 135 million (EUR 163.8 million) - the fleet's most valuable fishery. Both Scottish and Norwegian fishers argue the Faroes and Iceland’s unilateral quotas put their livelihoods at risk.

The Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA) with support from the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) are organising a meeting on Monday for Scottish mackerel fishers to discuss the results of bilateral talks due to finish on Friday.

“There is real anger on the quayside that such an important fishery to Scotland is being threatened by the irresponsible actions of Iceland and the Faroes. We have initiated a range of conservation measures to ensure the stock is in a healthy state and all this hard work could be undone if a resolution is not reached,” Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the SFF, said.

Related articles:

- EU fishermen to boycott Faroese mackerel meeting
- Faroese justify quota increase

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

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