Commenting on the failure of negotiations to agree an international mackerel fishing deal between the EU, Norway, Faroe Islands and Iceland, Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, said:
“The situation is described as being not a complete breakdown but that negotiations are suspended and will be resumed in Reykjavik on 25 January 2012. We understand that both Iceland and the Faroes were made an offer on mackerel shares from the EU and Norway, which while not accepted, it is our understanding that Iceland hasn’t rejected it either, and this is the basis for continuing the talks next month.
“In the meantime, a provisional mackerel quota has been set by the EU and Norway. This is obviously not an ideal solution as it again sees the Scottish industry working under a cloud regarding our final mackerel allocation.”
It is expected that the EC will propose sanctions this week against Iceland and the Faroes on 14 December ahead of the December Fish Council in Brussels. This will be a proposal from the EC, and it will then be up to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament to legislate on the proposal.
Mr Gatt said: “We welcome this move as it has been a long time in coming and will send a clear message to Iceland and the Faroes that the EU is serious about taking action against over-fishing. The Scots pelagic industry will be urging Scots fisheries minister Richard Lochhead, and UK counterpart Richard Benyon, to take the lead on this, given that the UK is the largest stakeholder in the mackerel fishery.
Meanwhile, Ian Gatt was in Strasbourg yesterday (12 December) in attendance of a debate and vote on the future of the EU/Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement, which provides crucial employment for Scottish and Western Saharan people.
Mr Gatt said: “Several factories in the town of Dahkla are dependent upon the fish caught by a Scottish fishing company for their livelihoods, and should the European Parliament vote against the partnership agreement, then many jobs could be jeopardised. Struan Stevenson MEP has been incredibly supportive to the Scottish pelagic industry on this and has worked tirelessly in the lead up to the vote.”
Later this week, the December Fish Council gets underway on 15 December, and the SPFA will be looking to secure herring quotas in the West of Scotland and Irish Sea in line with ICES scientific advice. In addition, Scotland’s pelagic fishermen will be looking to secure additional quota in boarfish, a relatively new fishery that is being undertaken in the Bay of Biscay
