To avoid overfishing by Iceland, the European Commission proposed on Tuesday 12 November in the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) to cap mackerel catches in international waters at 109,000 tonnes.
“Everything depends on the support the EU will receive” on this issue among NEAFC contracting parties, explained a Commission representative during a debate in the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries on Iceland's decision to unilaterally increase its mackerel catches (see EUROPE 12320/10).
The delegations of the EU, the Faroe Islands and Norway recently reached an agreement (without Iceland) on quotas for fishing opportunities of mackerel (see EUROPE 12358/13). The Commission representative hoped that this proposal presented to NEAFC would be supported by the other parties, which would make it possible to “limit overfishing by Icelanders”.
Sanctions? In addition, the Commission acknowledged that, for the time being, it was difficult for the EU to impose sanctions against Iceland, as it was necessary to demonstrate proof of danger to the resource (the stock is considered healthy) and the lack of cooperation from the country in question.
However, the Commission criticises Iceland for not having, for the time being, made a request to “reopen dialogue” between coastal states on mackerel management. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)