Disappointment as mackerel talks break down once again

Scottish fishermen have voiced disappointment at the latest breakdown in talks between the EU/Norway and Iceland/Faroe over north-east Atlantic mackerel quotas.

A meeting held yesterday between EU fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki, Norway’s fisheries minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen, Icelandic fisheries minister Steingrímur Sigfússon and Jacob Vestergaard, minister of fisheries of the Faroe Islands, failed to make any progress.

Responding to this latest failure in a protracted series of talks to reach an agreement, Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, said: “We are disappointed that there was no breakthrough, but if a fair deal wasn’t on the table for the EU and Norway, then we support the negotiating position adopted by commissioner Damanaki.

“If it is not possible to reach agreement at this high level, then one has to question whether there is any hope at all for the next round of talks scheduled for October. This makes it even more important than ever that the European Parliament ratifies sanction measures against Iceland and the Faroes this month, and that the EU wastes no time in immediately implementing them.”