Friday 29 March 2024
 7°C   SSE Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / Talks break down again

EC fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki

EUROPEAN fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki has condemned the inflexibility of negotiators who have spent the past three days trying to resolve the ongoing north east Atlantic mackerel dispute.

She said there was less than one per cent of a share of the overall stock preventing an agreement between the European Union, Norway, Faroe and Iceland gathered in Bergen.

The four coastal states gathered in Bergen from Wednesday to Friday in their latest attempt to reach “a fair and balanced agreement” to end a dispute that has rumbled on for the past three years with increasing acrimony.

After the talks ended once again without agreement, the European Commission said “ a great opportunity…has not yet been seized”.

Damanaki said the difference between the parties was so small it should be possible to overcome, blaming the other parties for being too inflexible.

“This is a multi-billion euro industry and we need to take the right decisions now to have a sustainable stock to fish for the future,” she said.

“A difference of 0.8 per cent of share remains to be found.

“The (European) Union has been the most flexible party in these negotiations and has done its utmost to broker a balanced and fair deal, but entrenched positions are blocking a solution.

“I urge all coastal states to reflect in the coming days in order to make a final push to resolve this dispute.”

The four states are scheduled to meet again in London next week to discuss arrangements for blue whiting and atlanto-scandian herring.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.