Skuffende forhandlinger

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FELLES PRESSEMELDING:

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The EU and Norwegian pelagic industry want to express their strong disappointment with the failure of the latest attempt by the coastal states to come to an agreement on a joint management of the mackerel stock. These mackerel negotiations took place in Oslo from 9-11 March 2011. The EU and Norwegian industry blame this failure to the unrealistic demands and irresponsible behaviour by the Faroe Islands and Iceland.

In 2010, the EU and Norway reached a bilateral mackerel agreement after coming to the conclusion that it was not possible at the time to bring the Faroe Islands and Iceland into such agreement. The 2011 TAC that was set by both coastal states was fully in conformity with the scientific advice by ICES, the long term management plan and the historical sharing arrangement.

During 2010 and also now in 2011 the negotiations continued with Faroe Islands and Iceland with the aim of concluding a comprehensive sustainable mackerel management agreement. Again this round in Oslo disappointingly broke up without any result.

Iceland has already set their own autonomous mackerel quota for 2011 of more than 150,000 tonnes, which is not backed by scientific advice. We just have to wait and see what level the Faroe government will set as a unilateral 2011 mackerel quota. In 2010 the Faroe Islands allocated 85,000 tonnes of mackerel quota to their vessel owners.

The EU and Norway have come to the negotiation table in Oslo with the will to finally come an agreement among all parties concerned. According to the EU and Norwegian pelagic industry the totally unrealistic demands by both Faroe Islands and Iceland for a share in the quota allocation is the sole reason why no agreement was reached. We underline that allocation shares can never be based on a pattern of free fisheries, lacking any scientific credibility, which would be the case if the EU and Norway accepted unrealistic demands by both countries.

Unfortunately 2011 will see total catches that will most probably exceed the catches advised by ICES.

The EU and Norwegian pelagic industry have deep concerns about the long term sustainability of the North East Atlantic mackerel stock. Therefore both industries demand that the EU and Norwegian governments instigate effective sanctions against Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

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