As per the local news the prospects for pelagic catching for next years are beginning to take shape with agreement already reached on an increase in the total allowable catch for Atlanto-Scandian herring. Al eyes are now on mackerel talks set for London this week. Derek Duthie, the chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, pinted out that the first round of negotiations on blue whiting took place last week, but no agreement was reached on a total allowable catch figure.
According to him the issue had been deferred until the week commencing November 10. he informed that for Atlanto-Scandian herring, an 8.2 percent increase in the TAC was agreed in line with ICES advice on the stock which is in good shape. In the meantime the talks on mackerel begin on Thursday 30 October in London involving the relevant coastal states: the EU, Faroe and Norway. Duthie said he was still hopeful of an increase in the TAC for the Western Stock.
Duthie told that this is an issue which the coastal states are going to have to deal with and they have asked EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg to write to his Icelandic counterpart to make it clear that what is happening is unacceptable and he has done that. He added that the huge Icelandic by-catch was also irresponsible.
Duthie also said that a bid to resolve an issue surrounding Spanish mackerel catching is also being made. He opined that the increase in the Atlanto-Scandian herring TAC was undoubtedly good news.
