Brussels, 28/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 28 August, the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries highlighted the positive results of the co-ordinated survey of the Nordic countries on mackerel.
The marine research institutes of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway have published a report on the mackerel fisheries survey in the Nordic Seas, which was conducted in July and August.
The total estimate of mackerel biomass is around nine million tonnes, which is similar to or slightly higher than the 2013 figure. The distribution of the stock is somewhat different, as northward and westward migration is markedly greater than has been measured before, according to the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries. This means that the estimated amount of mackerel stock in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Iceland is similar to previous years and the amount in Greenland's EEZ and the northernmost international waters is greatly increased. However, stock volumes were considerably reduced in Faroese and Norwegian waters, Iceland announces.
Iceland's Fisheries Minister, Sigurður Ingi Johannsson, said that it is good news that the mackerel stock is still so strong. He added that the survey confirms “once again a great abundance of mackerel in Icelandic waters as well as a significant increase in Greenlandic waters”. He stated that these developments should be recognised and duly taken into account in future negotiations between the coastal states on the distribution of mackerel fishing quotas.
Readers may recall that Iceland declined to come on board the 2014 agreement between the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands on the management of the mackerel stocks (stating that it may be able to join the 2015 agreement, which will been negotiated between now and the end of the year: EUROPE 11067). (LC)