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Mackerel quota action 'unacceptable'
10/08/2010
Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead today described the decision of both the Governments of Iceland and the Faroe Islands to award arbitrary fishing quota for mackerel as extremely damaging and irresponsible.
At the end of July, the Faroe Islands set a quota for mackerel of 85,000 tonnes for this year, which is 15 per cent of the recommended global total allowable catch (TAC) and far in excess of their previous four per cent share. This follows a recent decision by Iceland to declare themselves a quota of 130,000 tonnes.
This level of fishing is likely to have a detrimental impact on the fishery and impact on the sustainability of the stock. It will undermine Scottish mackerel fishing, the first large-scale mackerel fishery in Europe to be accredited by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Richard Lochhead said:
"By setting a unilateral mackerel TAC far in excess of their previous share, both the Faroe Islands and Iceland have taken short-sighted and selfish decisions that could be disastrous for global mackerel stocks. Scotland is at the fore of promoting responsible, sustainable fishing practices therefore these unacceptable actions are deeply frustrating for Scottish fishermen.
"I'm pleased that the EU has now publicly denounced these extremely damaging and irresponsible actions by both countries. I am greatly encouraged by the commitment being shown by the EU on this and hope that these matters will be at the fore of Iceland's EU accession negotiations.
"Mackerel is one of the most sustainable fisheries thanks to the action that Scotland and other EU member states have taken to successfully manage stocks. This is now being put at risk by the irresponsible actions of Iceland and the Faroes."
Richard Lochhead has been working closely with Richard Benyon, UK Fisheries Minister, and the European Commission to find a solution to this issue. Both Richard Lochhead and Richard Benyon have written to European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki to raise their shared concerns. Mr Lochhead welcomes the subsequent announcement by the Commissioner voicing the EU objections to the actions taken by Iceland and the Faroe Islands.