Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead yesterday met members of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association to discuss the continuing situation of the mackerel stock being overfished by the Faroe Islands and Iceland.
Date:
Fri, 09 Sep 2011
Source:
Scottish Government
Scottish Government:
website
Following the meeting, Mr Lochhead said: "Both government and industry strongly believe that a new coastal states agreement is needed if we are to safeguard the valuable mackerel fishery - but that we cannot do a deal at any cost.
"Today's meeting with the SPFA was very productive and emphasised again our willingness to work together to achieve a solution.
"The irresponsible actions of the Faroe Islands and Iceland places the future of the shared mackerel fishery at risk and it is regrettable that the situation has been allowed to continue for another fishing season.
"We look forward to the European Commission introducing meaningful and effective proposals on sanctions in the next few weeks. We cannot afford to let this situation continue any longer and countries must not be allowed to ignore their international obligations."
For 2011 the Faroe Islands have unilaterally set themselves a of mackerel catch of 150,000 tonnes, up 75 per cent on 2010 and more than five times their internationally agreed share in 2009. Iceland, which caught very little mackerel prior to 2008, set their own increased catch of around 147,000 tonnes earlier this year.
Figures for 2010 indicate that the value of mackerel to the Scottish economy was £109 million.
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