Mackerel sanctions “imminent”

SANCTIONS against Iceland and Faroe in response to their unilateral mackerel quotas are at an advanced stage, according to the Scottish government.

Fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead met with European Union fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki on Monday to press for action after Iceland and Faroe walked out of talks with the EU and Norway on setting mackerel quotas.

Mr Lochead said: “The commissioner agreed that the current situation is unacceptable and tough action is needed. She assured me that concrete proposals from the EU are imminent and that an announcement is expected in the coming days.”

This month Faroe gave itself permission to catch 150,000 tonnes of mackerel this year, a 75 per cent increase on last year’s quota and five times their last agreed share in 2009.

Iceland set themselves a quota of 147,000 tonnes, far greater than the relatively small amount they traditionally catch.

Both island groups claim the valuable species are spending more time in their waters and therefore they are entitled to a greater share of the catch, a view disputed by the EU and Norway who say their sustainable approach to the fishery is being threatened.