Next week, further discussion between the EU, Norway and the Faroes will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo: Odin Hjellestad)

Third round of mackerel talks fail

UNITED KINGDOM
Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 01:20 (GMT + 9)

A third set of talks launched to resolve a quota quarrel over mackerel have failed and Scotland’s fishers have noted their disappointment. Officials from the European Union (EU), Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands have been trying to reach an agreement on catch limits for mackerel for next year.

Iceland and the Faroe Islands this year unilaterally established the mackerel quotas in their own waters earlier this year, drawing indignation from many countries over worries about overfishing.

A third round of talks to settle the row and set a joint management plan for mackerel stocks started in Oslo, Norway last week.

As Iceland has walked away from the talks, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said the intended four-way agreement will more likely become a three-party agreement, BBC reports.

Next week, further discussion between the EU, Norway and the Faroes will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark.

"We are bitterly disappointed that Iceland does not see the need to find a deal this year and have walked away from the talks,” said Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association. "This effectively means that Iceland will set its own quota for 2011 and not be part of a joint management plan for the stock with the other main stakeholders in the fishery.”

"We believe that joint management involving all coastal states is essential to ensure that this valuable resource is fished sustainably. It is a great pity that Iceland does not seem to recognise the importance of integrated and sensible management,” he continued.

Gatt noted that it is encouraging that the Faroese continue to take part in talks, as they have belonged to a long standing international agreement for numerous years and their cooperation may lead to a three-party deal with the EU and Norway in the next few weeks.

"We have had 10 years of careful, sustainable management of the mackerel stock and we want this to continue for another 10 years, and beyond,” stated Lochhead. "That's why it is so disappointing that Iceland have stuck with unrealistic demands that put all this hard work at risk and threatens the future viability of mackerel fishing in the North Atlantic.”

"Talks with the Faroe Islands will continue and we remain hopeful that a new three party agreement can be reached for 2011 - which would be better than the current situation of both Faroes and Iceland setting excessive unilateral quotas," he added.

Related articles:

- Scotland calls for sensible mackerel deal in new round of talks 
- Faroes pressured in bilateral mackerel talks 

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

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