News / Iceland accuses EU of overfishing
ICELAND has accused Norway and the EU of overfishing mackerel stocks in the north east Atlantic while ignoring the legitimate interest of other coastal states.
Following the collapse of last week’s mackerel talks, Iceland has set itself a 16 per cent share of the recommended total allowable catch (TAC) for 2012 of 639,000 tonnes.
Iceland’s chief negotiator at the talks, Tomas Heidar, said the EU and Norway’s proposal to find a resolution to the prolonged conflict had been “totally unrealistic”.
He added that during 2011 the EU and Norway had taken more than 90 per cent of the recommended allowable catch which, in his view, amounted to overfishing.
“The quota decision of the EU and Norway was in fact a prescription of overfishing from the mackerel stock and the Icelandic authorities strongly criticized it. It is hoped that this will not be repeated.
“The Icelandic authorities continue to place emphasis on the need to reach an agreement on the management of mackerel fisheries in order to ensure sustainable fisheries and prevent further overfishing from the stock.
“Iceland is therefore committed to continue contributing to reaching an agreement in cooperation with the other coastal states.
He added that no decision on holding another meeting in the new year had been taken, “neither in Reykjavik nor elsewhere”.
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