Proposals have finally been progressed by the European Commission that could see sanctions brought against Faroes and Iceland for their reckless overfishing of mackerel, says the Scottish government.
The Commission proposals, which will be discussed at the Fisheries Council in Brussels this week, establish a framework of sanctions which can be used against any country that engages in unsustainable fishing that threatens EU stocks.
Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
"For more than a year we have been asking the Commission to bring forward concrete measures for sanctions, to address excessive mackerel fishing by Faroes and Iceland, outwith an international agreement. Therefore I welcome that these proposals have at last been published.
"We need to explore all options as we seek a resolution and with a sanctions proposal on the table that can be applied against any country engaging in unsustainable fishing, this would give the EU more leverage when talks resume in January, while providing added incentive for Faroes and Iceland to negotiate reasonably.
"Our priority continues to be securing an international agreement for the fishery in 2012, however we cannot stand back while this valuable stock is plundered. If we are to ensure mackerel is sustainably fished and Scottish industry safeguarded, it's critical that we have power to use sanctions, as and when required."
Further negotiations between the EU, Norway, Faroe Islands and Iceland will resume next month to try and reach agreement for an international mackerel deal.
In 2011 the Faroe Islands unilaterally set themselves a mackerel catch of 150,00t, up 75 per cent on 2010 and more than five times their internationally agreed share in 2009. Meanwhile, Iceland, who caught very little mackerel prior to 2008, set their own increased TAC of around 147,000t earlier this year.
In 2010 mackerel was Scotland's most valuable catch, worth £113 million to the Scottish economy.
