Marine

Step forward as mackerel agreement reached

March 13, 2014 by Marine Scotland Communications No Comments | Category Fisheries, Marine Directorate general

Scotland’s most valuable fishery could be worth an extra £83 million this year after a five year deal was finally agreed between the EU, Norway, and for the first time in four years, the Faroes.

At a time when stocks are particularly healthy, Scottish fishermen will be able to catch almost an extra 100,000 tonnes of mackerel after their total quota has been agreed at over 210,000 tonnes which is roughly equivalent to 42 per cent of the total EU quota. An unallocated amount has been set aside for Iceland to sign up to at any stage.

A second set of talks, the EU/Norway talks that had stalled over the previous weekend, have also concluded this evening with cod quotas increasing by 5 per cent after the initial proposal was a 9 per cent cut.

Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

“After all these years waiting for a deal this agreement will bring welcome relief to the Scottish fishing industry.

“There have been times when any agreement seemed far away but we have been clear that any deal would need to be good for the Scottish industry. I believe the increase in almost 100,000 tonnes of mackerel quota will bring much needed certainty over the next few years and allow businesses to plan ahead.

“Our fishing industry still faces significant challenges, with our fleet having to endure cuts to quotas while at the same time working towards a landing obligation and reducing discards. However, I welcome the end of these talks and I am pleased that the negotiations managed to significantly mitigate reductions in some of our key traditional stocks of haddock and whiting.

“The 5 per cent increase in cod quotas, while slightly less than hoped for, puts an end to the nonsensical cut proposal that would have simply resulted in an increase in discards.

“I hope Iceland will now step forward and join the agreement to make it complete and allow the international fishery to be properly and sustainably managed, and that, now the negotiations are concluded, Scotland’s fisherman can move forward with confidence and continue to make their outstanding contribution to the Scottish economy.”

• Read the Press Release

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