Britain wins backing for Iceland fishery sanctions

Richard Benyon, the UK fisheries minister, announced in Luxembourg yesterday that Simon Coveney, the Republic of Ireland’s minister for agriculture, food and marine, had agreed to back the demand that Iceland and the Faroe Islands should reduce the mackerel quotas they unilaterally awarded themselves – or face sanctions.

Speaking at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, Mr Benyon said: “I want to reach an agreement with Iceland and the Faroese, but if they continue to fish at the same level as they’re doing this year, then the stock could be in danger as early as 2014 – we cannot allow that to happen.

“Mackerel is vitally important to the Scottish fleet in particular, and it’s not right that they should lose out when they have played by the rules.

“We had a very constructive meeting with the Irish delegation this morning, who feel the same as we do, that if Iceland and the Faroe Islands don’t stop taking more than their fair share then the sanctions proposed by the commission must be considered as soon as possible,” Mr Benyon added.

Richard Lochhead, the Scottish fisheries minister, said: “This morning’s meeting between Scottish, UK and Irish ministers to discuss the mackerel crisis was very productive, and we will work together on this issue as we move forward.

“We all agreed that sanctions promised by the commission need to be tabled as soon as possible to demonstrate our resolve to respond robustly to actions taken by Iceland and Faroes and we will continue to press for this.

“It was also agreed it is important to continue to try and seek a negotiated agreement with Iceland and Faroes through the current talks being held in London, which are still moving forward and due to resume again next week.”

But he stressed: “Such an agreement cannot be at any price.”