Scottish MEP Struan Stevenson is the latest politician to weigh in on the mackerel war that has the European Union and Norway pitted against Iceland and the Faeroe Islands.
On Monday, Stevenson called for an immediate EU blockade of Icelandic and Faroese ships and goods. In a letter to Carmen Fraga, president of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, he urged that Icelandic and Faroese fisheries ministers be summoned to Brussels for talks. And, if they refuse, Stevenson offered to travel with Fraga to Reykjavik and Torshavn.
“Iceland and the Faroes are acting just like their Viking ancestors, only this time it’s our mackerel they’re plundering,” said Stevenson in a prepared statement.
“So far they have obstinately refused to bring their quotas back down to sensible levels, so I believe the EU must apply maximum pressure to bring them back to the table,” he added. “But in the meantime, we should play hardball by closing EU ports to their vessels and banning all imports from both countries. They need to understand the serious repercussions of this selfish and short-sighted action.”
Stevenson’s stance is backed by the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA) and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF).
“Europe must act now to protect Scotland’s most valuable fishery resource. Norway has taken the lead by prohibiting Faroese and Icelandic mackerel catches from entering their country. The European Commission must reciprocate this action immediately,” said SPFA CEO Ian Gatt.
Tensions have been escalating since the Faeroes and Iceland decided to significantly increase their 2010 mackerel quotas to 85,000 metric tons and 130,000 metric tons, respectively. The EU and Norway claim that the quotas defy international management arrangements and threaten the health of the mackerel stock.
Last week, Scottish fishermen blocked a Faroese vessel from landing its catch in Peterhead, and, according to a report in the Herald Scotland, the Faroese fishermen lost around GBP 400,000 worth of mackerel.
Numerous organizations and politicians have weighed in on the mackerel war. The European Association of Fish Producer Organizations urged EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki to take action, while the Faroe Shipowners’ Association said the Faeroe Islands had “no choice” but to set its own quota when faced with exclusion from this year’s mackerel agreement between the EU and Norway.
Click here to view SeafoodSource Contributing Editor Nicki Holmyard’s 9 August commentary about the mackerel war.
