Trade restrictions sought against Iceland and Faroes

At the July Council of Ministers, Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine supported by the UK, France and Spain, called for trade restrictions to be imposed “immediately by the EU Commission against Iceland and the Faroe Islands for their “continued unacceptable and irresponsible fishing of mackerel”.  

MFV Vigilant steaming into a westerly gale. Photo J Cunningham

Iceland and the Faroes have set “large unilateral quotas at unsustainable levels in 2013.  Their unilateral quotas amount to 52% of the recommended scientifically advised catch of mackerel in 2013,” he said.    

“This is the fifth year in which Iceland has refused to engage in meaningful negotiations with the EU and Norway, the recognised major shareholders in this fishery. Iceland and the Faroes have developed a large and unsustainable fishery of mackerel from a situation in 2006 when they had a combined total share of only 5% of the fishery,” he added.

 

Iceland responds 

“I am disappointed to learn of Minister Simon Coveney’s recent statement which projected a selective and false view of the ongoing mackerel debate,” Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson  told Inshore Ireland.

“Minister Coveney’s claims are simply not true. We were saddened to learn that the Minister is supporting damaging and counterproductive sanctions even as efforts to find a fair solution through dialogue and diplomacy are on-going. All Coastal States involved are responsible for the sustainable management of the North Atlantic mackerel stock.”

(see Aug/Sept issue for full story)