International mackerel quota talks get underway

Negotiations began this week in West Cork, Ireland, to try and reach an agreement between the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands on the total allowable catch (TAC) for mackerel in the Northeast Atlantic for 2016.

The Russian Federation and Greenland are also participating as observers.

In total, more than 70 attending international delegates are being hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine on behalf of Ireland in the National Seafood Centre in Clonakilty.

“I am very pleased that Ireland is hosting these negotiations. Mackerel is the single most important stock for the Irish fleet and we need to secure agreement at international level on management arrangements for this stock. I very much hope that agreement on a sustainable strategy can be reached this week at what I am sure will be intensive and difficult talks,” said Simon Coveney, Ireland’s minister for agriculture, food and the marine.

"Mackerel is very important both for the Irish catching sector and to our seafood processing industry in Donegal and along the western seaboard and provides significant seasonal employment in Donegal, Galway, Kerry and Cork.  Our aim this week and always is to have a sustainable long-term management strategy for this vital shared stock,” he said.

A year ago, the EU,  Faroes and Norway agreed to share a quota totaling 1,054,000 metric tons (MT), with the EU receiving 519,512 MT, Norway 237,250 MT, the Faroes 132,814 MT. A 15.6 percent reserve (164,424 MT) was set aside for new adherents to the arrangement, such as Iceland.

Subscribe

Want seafood news sent to your inbox?

You may unsubscribe from our mailing list at any time. Diversified Communications | 121 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101 | +1 207-842-5500
None