EU rules out early support for Scots fishermen

Published on Tuesday 28 June 2011 18:03

RICHARD Lochhead, the Scottish fisheries minister, yesterday condemned the failure of the European Union to impose immediate sanctions on Iceland and the Faroes in a bid to break the deadlock on mackerel quotas.

Both Nordic countries have refused to enter into an international agreement on mackerel fishing for this year. Scots trawlermenmen have warned that fish stocks will be badly hit.

Mr Lochhead called for immediate action against Iceland and the Faroes at a meeting of the European Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg. But European fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki said she would not be putting forward any plans to penalise Iceland and the Faroes until October.

The Scots minister declared: "While the EU is navel-gazing and caught up in process, Scotland's most valuable catch is being plundered recklessly and without rebuke by the Faroe Islands and Iceland.

"Commissioner Damanaki has helpfully stated her serious intent on taking effective action in October, but this situation is being allowed to continue for yet another mackerel fishing season."