EU and Scottish mackerel fishermen are to meet fisheries commissioner, Maria Damanaki, in Brussels today to discuss the ongoing dispute over mackerel quotas.
“We will be telling the commissioner that because of the recent independent science confirming the north-east Atlantic mackerel stock is in robust health, that the EU must not be pressurised into rushing into a deal, and that any agreement struck must not compromise the interests of the UK and EU fleets who have been sustainably harvesting mackerel within a management plan," said Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA).
“The negotiating strategy should be pursued jointly with our colleagues in Norway, and that under no circumstances should any agreement contain the provision that would enable Iceland to fish for mackerel off the Scottish coast,” he added.
The EU and Norway are in dispute with Iceland and the Faroe Islands following their move four years ago to significantly increase their mackerel quotas outside of an international management plan.
SPFA says it will also highlight the importance of mackerel to the UK and other parts of the EU and its part played in supporting a number of jobs.
Negotiations will resume later this week (23 to 25 October) in London with Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
