Fishermen's leaders to lobby EC on quota war

Published on Friday 24 September 2010 14:22

SCOTTISH fishermen's leaders will next week demand that the European Commission brings the Faroese and Icelandic governments to heel in the so-called "mackerel wars."

Scottish trawlermen fear huge quota cut unless row is sorted

They plan to lobby Monday's meeting of the European Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels in advance of crucial talks on mackerel quotas due to be held in London next month.

Scottish skippers have already warned they are prepared to take unilateral action by continuing to mount quayside blockades to prevent mackerel and herring catches from the Faroes being landed at Scottish ports in protest against the decision of the Faroe Islands to set a mackerel quota of 85,000 tonnes for this year, more than three times their previous total allowable catch, and Iceland's decision to set a quota of 130,000 tonnes.

Scottish fishermen fear the massive quotas set by the two Nordic nations could destabilise global mackerel stocks and lead to a big cut in Scotland's share of the catch, worth 135 million a year to the pelagic fleet.

Ian Gatt, the chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association, said yesterday that the Brussels delegation would be pressing the European Commission to give a clear signal that "strong action" will be taken against Iceland and the Faroes if they fail to reach a deal on mackerel quotas next month.

A meeting between the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroes to discuss the situation is scheduled for 12 October in London.