Mackerel fishing criticised

Norway is critical to what it calls irresponsible fishing for mackerel by Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and underlines the ban on landings of mackerel in Norway by vessels from the two nations.

 - The irresponsible fishing for mackerel which Iceland and the Faroe Islands have initiated as an attempt to secure future quota shares is a serious threat to the mackerel stock, and undermines the cooperation to secure the necessary conservation measures. I consider this situation very seriously, and it has been the topic of discussions between myself and the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Lisbeth Berg-Hansen says in a comment.

Catches of mackerel from Faroese and Icelandic vessels are, according to Norwegian legislation, not allowed to be landed in Norwegian ports. An exemption is made for the 2000 tons of mackerel which the Faroe Islands are entitled to catch in Norwegian waters as part of the fisheries agreement for 2010 between the Faroe Islands and Norway.

(Aftenposten/Press release)

Friday, 30 July 2010 07:25