Icelandic Fisheries Minister Jon Bjarnason on Thursday said he is committed to settling the strife over mackerel in North Atlantic waters, which has the European Union and Norway pitted against Iceland and the Faeroe Islands.
“We want to come to an agreement. But all [sides] have to accept the fact that the mackerel are here, and, as coastal states, we are allowed to fish it,” Bjarnason told BBC Radio 4 on Thursday.
In another interview with Radio Saga, Bjarnason blasted calls for trade sanctions against Iceland and the Faeroes. “It is absolutely preposterous of the EU or its member countries to make such threats,” he said. “Personally, I put great emphasis on reaching an agreement, but our interests must be recognized and respected. We have a right to fish from that stock, but, of course, we want to reach an agreement.”
Iceland and the Faeroes set off a war of words when they significantly increased their 2010 mackerel quotas to 130,000 metric tons and 85,000 metric tons, respectively. The EU and Norway shot back that the quotas defy international agreements and threaten the health of the mackerel stock.
Tensions flared last week when Scottish fishermen blockaded Faroese vessels from landing their GBP 400,000 mackerel catch at a Peterhead processing plant; the catch spoiled, according to local media report.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead defended his fishermen’s actions and called on Iceland and the Faeroes to act responsibly.
“It’s a hugely significant stock to Scotland. That’s why our fishermen are so outraged and have held peaceful protests to bring this issue to everyone’s attention,” said Lochhead. “[It’s] very worrying, because this is a major stock that has been sustainably managed for 10 years through an international agreement involving many countries. We don’t want to see this stock overfished. The Icelandic quota and the Faeroese quota are massive, and they could be highly damaging.”
Scottish MEP Struan Stevenson has also been vocal about mackerel. On Thursday, he defended his call for an immediate EU blockade of Icelandic and Faeroese ships and goods. Earlier this week, he said Iceland and the Faeroes are “acting just like their Viking ancestors” by “plundering” the mackerel stock.
“I am continuing to push at the EU level for a solution that doesn’t endanger mackerel stocks and Scotland’s pelagic fleet,” said Stevenson. “But we must not shy away from firm measures such as an EU-wide blockade of Icelandic and Faroese vessels to show them that we mean business. Norway has already acted to this effect and our resolve must be equally great.”
Earlier this week, European Union Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki weighed in on the mackerel debate. Damanaki’s spokesperson told SeafoodSource that she’s prepared to personally meet with fisheries officials from Iceland and the Faeroes, adding that the European Commission “isn’t happy and disappointed about the situation.”
