|
Oliver Drewes, the European Commission spokesman. (Photo: EC)
Brusels warns Iceland, Faroes over 'mackerel war'
 EUROPEAN UNION
Thursday, August 26, 2010, 15:10 (GMT + 9)
Iceland and the Faroe Islands are overfishing mackerel way above a level deemed safe for the survival of the fish, the European Union's executive arm said on Wednesday.
Iceland's fishing policies, notably its refusal to share its cod fishing waters, has been identified as a thorny issue to resolve with the EU in the North Atlantic island's bid to join the 27-nation club.
Oliver Drewes, the European Commission's spokesman for maritime affairs, said the dispute over mackerel would be discussed with Iceland and the Faroe Islands at a technical meeting in September.
"They are overfishing more than which is justifiable on the basis of scientific evidence," Drewes said at a news briefing.
"So in fact they are taking more out than which is good to maintain this fish in the future and that is the concern we have on the more fundamental basis," he said.
Iceland has unilaterally decided to raise its mackerel quota to 130,000 tonnes this year compared to the usual 2,000 tonnes.
The Faroe Islands, an autonomous Danish province located between Britain and Iceland, has set a quota of 85,000 tonnes, three times higher than the quota in forced between 1999 and 2009 in a deal with the EU and Norway.
The moves have angered Scottish and Norwegian fishermen.
A Scottish member of the European parliament, Struan Stevenson, called on Monday for an EU-wide blockade of Icelandic and Faroese ships and goods over what has been described as a "mackerel war."
"Iceland and the Faroes are acting just like their Viking ncestors, only this time it's our mackerel they're lundering," Stevenson said.
"So far they have obstinately refused to bring their quotas back down to sensible levels, so I believe the EU must apply maximum pressure to bring them back to the table," he said.
The international environmental group WWF has warned that the unilateral quotas set by Iceland and the Faroes could mean a "death sentence" for the fish.
AFP
Related articles:
- Mackerel wars not sustainable: WWF
-Fishers block Faroese vessel from unloading catch
- Faroes justify their mackerel quota
- Iceland, Faroes' mackerel quotas threaten Scottish fishery
[email protected]
www.seafood.media
Photo Courtesy of FIS Member  European Commission - Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
|
|
Print
