EU sanctions to tackle reckless mackerel fishing by Iceland and the Faros must be tabled as soon as possible, it was agreed by Scotland, UK and Ireland Ministers in Luxembourg last week.
Date:
Mon, 24 Oct 2011
Source:
Scottish Government
Scottish Government:
Website
The Ministers also agreed it was important to try and seek a negotiated agreement with the two countries and that the overriding objective must be to ensure the future sustainability of the stock.
Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead said: "The meeting between Scottish, UK and Irish Ministers to discuss the mackerel crisis was very productive and we will work together on this issue as we move forward.
"We all agreed that sanctions promised by the Commission need to be tabled as soon as possible to demonstrate our resolve to respond robustly to actions taken by Iceland and Faroes and we will continue to press for this.
"It was also agreed it is important to continue to try and seek a negotiated agreement with Iceland and Faroes through the current talks being held in London, which are still moving forward and due to resume again.
"However, we all recognise that such an agreement cannot be at any price. If the excessive mackerel fishing we have seen from Faroes and Iceland continues, we face the possibility of the stock falling below safe limits as early as 2014.
"We simply cannot afford to let that happen, therefore the absolute overriding objective for us all is to ensure the future sustainability of the stock."
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