Something fishy

Steingrimur Sigfusson’s portrayal of Iceland as adopting a reasonable stance for its grossly irresponsible over-fishing of the north-east Atlantic mackerel stock (Perspective, 4 January) is quite astonishing.

Steingrimur Sigfusson’s portrayal of Iceland as adopting a reasonable stance for its grossly irresponsible over-fishing of the north-east Atlantic mackerel stock (Perspective, 4 January) is quite astonishing.

If Iceland is concerned about sustainable fishing, then one has to question why it has unilaterally increased its mackerel catch from only 363 tonnes in 2005 to a quota of around 145,000 tonnes for 2012.

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Mr Sigfusson makes great play of Iceland’s willingness to adhere to the science when it comes to mackerel catching 
and cites climate change as one of the reasons for recent 
changes in mackerel migratory patterns.

In reality, the scientific advice indicates that an increase in the overall stock, due in large part to the sustainable fishing practices of the EU and Norwegian fleets, is the main reason why ­mackerel are now appearing in Icelandic waters.

Mackerel are in EU and Norwegian waters for nine months of the year and during this period Scottish boats fish for 
the species for only about six weeks so as to adhere to catch levels based on the science and ensure a sustainable future for the stock.

In contrast, in the three months that the mackerel are in Icelandic waters, Iceland fishes all out to catch as much as it can.

The EU and Norwegian ­negotiating teams have made several fair offers during the protracted negotiation process to resolve this dispute, but these have been rebuffed each time by Iceland and without resort to reasonable compromise.

In 15 negotiations to try and reach a fair and equitable ­solution, Iceland has never once tabled a compromise offer.

That is hardly the actions of a nation looking to seek an agreement.

Indeed, the EU and ­Norway have become so exasperated by Iceland’s intransigent stance that they will only resume negotiations once Iceland is prepared to put forward an offer.

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It is also why the EU has decided to implement sanctions as a measure of last resort to try and get Iceland to negotiate.

It is vital that the mackerel fishery is managed under an international agreement so as to ensure a sustainable future – this is what Scotland wants, as well as the rest of the EU and Norway.

At the moment, Iceland is holding the mackerel stock to ransom for its own advantage and without any due concern to the health of the stock or the other nations that have ­traditionally participated in the fishery.

The ball is firmly in Iceland’s court to reach a sensible solution. But to do so, they must return to the negotiating table with a fair and reasonable offer. So far, this has not happened.

Ian Gatt

Scottish Pelagic 
Fishermen’s Association

Frithside Street

Fraserburgh

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