Faroe refused mackerel badge
AN APPLICATION by the Faroe Islands seeking sustainability certification for their mackerel fishery has failed following an objection lodged by the Scottish government.
This follows a decision by the European Union to refuse any mackerel landed by Iceland at EU ports.
Faroe and Iceland declared unilateral mackerel quotas last year and have walked away from talks for a new 2011 international agreement.
The Scottish government lodged an objection to Faroe’s application to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for accreditation and certification of the Faroese mackerel fishery.
Scottish fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead said: “We are pleased that our objection has been upheld, as it is clear that the Faroes is in breach of the criteria to be considered a sustainably sourced fishery.
“This sends a strong signal to the Faroes that pursuing irresponsible fishing practices and grabbing an inflated share of the mackerel stock is unsustainable and no way to manage international fish stocks.
“This latest development once again illustrates that the Faroes should come back to the negotiating table. Our priority is to find a solution to the crisis and reach a new four-party deal – between the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands – that safeguards the future of the mackerel stock.
“The MSC has a valuable role to play in informing consumers and producers about sustainably sourced fish. Indeed, Scottish mackerel was the first large scale European fishery to achieve this sought after seal of approval, while our North Sea haddock is also now MSC-approved.”
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