Mackerel Back On The Agenda

2nd September 2012

Richard Lochhead has stressed the importance of the EU Fisheries Commissioner achieving a break through in mackerel talks with Iceland next week.

Mr Lochhead has set out Scottish concerns over the continued overfishing of the mackerel stock by Iceland, ahead of a meeting on Monday between Commissioner Maria Damanaki, Norway's Fisheries Minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen and Icelandic Fisheries Minister Steingrímur Sigfússon. The meeting will try to achieve progress in the ongoing mackerel stalemate.

Iceland and the Faroes have set themselves inflated mackerel quotas in recent years, outwith any agreement with the EU and Norway. In February protracted negotiations failed to secure a four-way deal for 2012, leading to a third straight year without agreement. New talks for 2013 are set to commence in October.

Mr Lochhead said:"It's a source of deep frustration that the excessive mackerel fishing by Iceland and the Faroes has continued unabated, with the consequence being that the sustainability of this valuable fishery is increasingly at risk.

"I'm pleased that the Commissioner is intervening personally to try and achieve progress with Iceland and I hope it leads to a break through. We cannot allow this situation to continue for yet another year - scientific advice indicates that the stock could fall below safe limits by as early as 2014 if overfishing continues.

"However, I am disappointed that we are still waiting for the EU to implement sanction measures against states fishing unsustainably outwith international agreements. I will continue to press the EU to show greater urgency in this matter."