News / Sanctions must be imposed
SCOTLAND is urging the European Commission to enforce sanctions against Iceland and Faroe for overfishing mackerel that were voted through in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
The sanctions were agreed in response to the two island states setting vastly inflated mackerel quotas for two years running after walking out of international negotiations.
Scottish fishermen warn that these quotas are unsustainable and threaten the future of the country’s most valuable fish stock.
The sanctions include a ban on all fish imports into the EU, restricting Icelandic and Faroese flagged vessels from EU ports and anyone in the EU selling fishing boats, equipment or supplies to the two islands.
The European Parliament also agreed they could be extended if they proved to be ineffective.
However Scottish fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead warned that the EU needed to show greater urgency in implementing these sanctions, calling for it to add “bite to its bark” after early indications already suggest the two islands intend to continue overfishing for a third year in 2013.
A fresh round of international talks on mackerel commence in October and politicians hope that the threat of sanctions will persuade Iceland and Faroe to cooperate with the EU and Norway.
Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association chief executive Ian Gatt said as the biggest stakeholder in the EU mackerel fishery, UK and Scottish ministers had a vital role to play in seeing sanctions are implemented.
“This is the third straight year without an international agreement on mackerel, which means the sustainability of this valuable fishery is being jeopardised,” Gatt warned.
He particularly thanked Donegal MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher for the “crucial role” he played in brokering the sanctions agreement.
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