Brussels, 31/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - EU fisheries ministers meeting in Brussels on 28 January discussed the thorny matter of the mackerel war which, for over three years now, has been waged between the EU and Norway, on one side, and Iceland and the Faroe Islands, on the other. In the context of the annual talks on shared stock management, and given that there is still no agreement with Iceland and the Faroe Islands, the EU and Norway have fixed their quotas in line with their traditional shares, i.e. 90% of TAC for mackerel.
During the Council, fisheries ministers of Spain, Ireland, Portugal and France called on the Commission to impose trading sanctions against Iceland and the Faroe Islands, the latter having withdrawn from international sharing arrangements for the Atlanto-Scandian herring stock (see EUROPE10772). Even the United Kingdom does not rule out the use of sanctions if these countries continue to adopt measures considered “irresponsible” for the survival of the fish stock. Estonia has voiced opposition to the prospect of sanctions, the main reason being that Iceland is in the middle of EU membership talks (Ed.: and in an election period). Sweden, also, is opposed and has suggested possible incompatibility of sanctions with WTO rules. Denmark has not voiced an opinion.
The European Commission, like the member states, would prefer a negotiated agreement between the parties concerned on the breakdown of mackerel quotas in the North East Atlantic. Maria Damanaki, Fisheries Commissioner, does not, however, rule out the possibility of bringing Iceland and the Faroe Islands to their senses by some other means. She spoke of the possibility (but only if conditions are met) of trade sanctions in accordance with the September 2012 regulation on measures against third countries practising or authorising non-sustainable fishing. Pursuant to that text, various trading measures can be adopted (a ban on imports into the EU and on the use of EU ports by fishing vessels found guilty of such practice, etc.). The commissioner even gave an indication that the legal work within the Commission on the possible adoption of measures is coming to an end. However, in addition to the reticence that already exists within the College of Commissioners on this very tricky subject of sanctions against Iceland, the commissioner intimated that the adoption of such sanctions could be brought into question as the EU and Norway have apparently not sufficiently reduced their fishing possibilities. The EU countries concerned answer that they have followed the scientific advice, and call for their traditional share (90%). Iceland is asking for 15% of the TAC (total allowable catch) for mackerel (when previously it only had 0.5%) and the Faroe Islands also 15% (when they only had 4.5%). (LC/transl.jl)