Sanctions urged in fish war

Published on Saturday 18 December 2010 17:21

SCOTTISH fishermen have called for the European Union to impose trade sanctions on Iceland after it moved to step up its mackerel quota for next year.

Iceland has said it will increase its unilaterally declared mackerel quota from 130,000 tonnes to 147,000 tonnes in 2011.

It is the latest escalation in a bitter row over catches with Iceland and the Faroe Islands, dubbed the "mackerel wars".

Talks to resolve the dispute with the Faroes broke down last Thursday, while Iceland previously walked out of negotiations.

The row was sparked when the countries moved to increase their catches of the fish, absorbing the bulk of the available North Atlantic quota.

Scottish mackerel fishermen have condemned Iceland's decision, branding it "political posturing that could result in serious harm to the health of the stock".

Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association, said: "It is now more essential than ever that the EU imposes trade sanctions on Iceland in response to its irresponsible behaviour."