EU fisheries and agriculture ministers meeting at the AgriFish Council in Brussels on Monday plan to shape a European strategy to settle the escalating mackerel dispute that has Iceland and the Faeroe Islands pitted against Norway and the European Union.
Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead will attend the event with UK Agriculture Minister Jim Paice. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Lochhead warned, “It is now critical that all parties demonstrate their desire to achieving a meaningful and fair resolution and commit to reasonable negotiations to achieve that outcome.”
Scottish media on Monday cited Lochhead as saying, “We must look at all of the options available.” One such option could be a ban on Icelandic and Faroese fishing boats landing their catches in Scotland.
In July, Iceland and the Faeroe sparked fury among Scottish fisherman after they set unilateral mackerel quotas far higher than previous catches. The Faeroes set its 2010 mackerel quota at 85,000 metric tons, more than three times last year’s quota, while Iceland adopted a quota of 130,000 metric tons. The Scottish mackerel quota, under the Common Fisheries Policy, is also set at 130,000 metric tons.
Scottish fishermen argue Iceland and the Faeroes, which are not EU members, ramped up their mackerel quotas so much that they are threatening sustainability of Scotland’s mackerel industry. At GBP 135 million, mackerel is the Scottish fleet’s most valuable fish species.
Potential solutions to safeguard global mackerel stocks were mooted last week when Scottish government officials re-established dialogue with Iceland when they attended a bilateral meeting in Reykjavik.
Each month, EU fisheries and agriculture ministers meet with fisheries, agriculture and health officials with the European Commission to discuss legislative acts. On Monday, in the presence of EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki, the ministers have an opportunity to stake out a strategy ahead of the showdown between EU, Norwegian, Icelandic and Faroese officials in London on 12 October.
Scotland’s position is clear. “The Scottish government will continue to press the UK government and the European Commission to achieve a multilateral agreement that is fair to Scotland and Norway and protects this vital industry,” said Alex Salmond, first minister of Scotland.
For years, the EU, Norway and the Faeroes have cooperated with a unified mackerel quota set and distributed between all three. Until recently, Iceland hardly fished for mackerel in its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. However, a considerable increase in the mackerel stock in northern waters, which some scientists attribute to climate change and rising ocean temperatures, led the Icelandic and Faroese governments to ramp up mackerel quotas significantly this year.
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