Failure to reach a deal on fishing quotas is putting a GBP 1 billion business in jeopardy, the Fisheries Secretary has warned.
Richard Lochhead raised his concerns as talks in Bergen, Norway, ended with a decision to start again next month.
Three previous rounds of talks between the EU, Norway, Faroe Islands and Iceland failed to reach a deal for 2012, while other discussions since 2009 have been unsuccessful, the Scottish government said.
Based on 2010 prices, landings of north east Atlantic mackerel in 2011 and 2012 would be worth more than GBP 1 billion, of which Scotland’s share would be around 20 percent, the government added.
