Fishers in the European Union are urging coastal states to resume all-party talks on mackerel quotas to safeguard stocks and businesses.
The industry stresses that this year’s UK-Norway bilateral deal has done nothing to end overfishing as it accuses Norway and the Faroe Islands of setting their own, unreasonable, quotas.
“The unilaterally set Northeast Atlantic mackerel quotas by Norway and Faroe Islands, at unjustified levels and on the basis of a one-dimensional zonal attachment approach deemed highly flawed by scientists, remain unacceptable and work against the efforts to pursue an all-inclusive agreement,” said Tim Heddema, spokesperson for the EU pelagic fishing industry.
After attempts to agree quotas before 31 March failed, parties suspended talks and no formal meetings on mackerel are expected before the end of September. This impasse has allowed Norway and the Faroes to inflate quotas by around 55%, argue EU fishers, with up to two thirds of Faroese catch being used for fishmeal and oil – a wasteful practice that they say will have a damaging effect on stock levels.
Moreover, the deal struck between the UK and Norway which has seen Norway agree to transfer nearly 25,000 tonnes of catch to the UK will have no effect on overfishing unless the UK decides not to use its quotas.
“For truly sustainable management, a full-fledged sharing arrangement is needed between as many parties as possible,” continued Heddema.
“We repeat our urgent call for an immediate EU response to stop Norway and Faroe Islands continuing their unsustainable and irresponsible behaviour.
“The EU has stuck to the shares agreed in 2014, but right now responsible EU businesses are being put out of business for doing the right thing,” he concluded.
