4 September 2012
Scottish fishermen have expressed disappointment at the failure of a meeting held today (3 September) between EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki, Norway’s Fisheries Minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen, Icelandic Fisheries Minister Steingrímur Sigfússon and Jacob Vestergaard, Minister of Fisheries of the Faroe Islands, to make any progress in resolving the continuing dispute over mackerel quota allocations in the north east Atlantic.
Responding to this latest failure in a protracted series of talks to reach an agreement, Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, said: “We are disappointed that there was no breakthrough, but if a fair deal wasn’t on the table for the EU and Norway, then we support the negotiating position adopted by Commissioner Damanaki.
“If it is not possible to reach agreement at this high level, then one has to question whether there is any hope at all for the next round of talks scheduled for October. This makes it even more important than ever that the European Parliament ratifies sanction measures against Iceland and the Faroes this month, and that the EU wastes no time in immediately implementing them.”
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More information:
Ian Gatt, SPFA, M: 07803 041021
Bertie Armstrong, Chief executive, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, Tel: 01224 646944
Keith Broomfield, Tel: 01259 742575, M: 07890 781151
