Brussels, 18/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Negotiations to try to reach an international agreement on mackerel fishing arrangements for the forthcoming 2012 season begin in London on Wednesday 19 October, following a number of years of disagreement among the parties - the EU, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Iceland. Hitherto, it has proved impossible to reach a compromise on mackerel fishing for next year, and two countries, Iceland and the Faroe Isles, have allocated themselves very large quotas. In 2011, the Faroe Isles allocated itself a mackerel quota of 150,000 tonnes, 75% more than in 2010 and five times more than what was allocated it, under an international agreement, in 2009. Iceland, which had fished very little mackerel before 2008, unilaterally took a total allowable catch (TAC) of 147,000 tonnes. The overfish in excess of the recommended TAC for 2011 is estimated to be nearly 300,000 tonnes (a total of 935,000 tonnes). If overfishing on this scale continues, scientists estimate that the stock could fall below precautionary levels as early as 2014. The European Commission is preparing a proposal, which is expected to be adopted before Christmas, according to information received, which aims to sanction third countries that unilaterally set themselves huge shares of the stock. The suggested measures (banning the export of certain fisheries products from these countries to the EU) could be applied for the first time to Iceland. (LC/transl.rt)