Fisheries Committee MEPs were severely criticised unilateral decisions by Iceland and the Faroe Islands to increase their mackerel catches. MEPs called for a strong response from the EU, and also advocated long-term and multilateral solutions such as an agreement between the states involved and improvements in international fisheries management.
The Fisheries Committee debate took place two weeks before coastal state consultations with an aim to secure a solution that would ensure the viability of the mackerel stock. Gerard van Balsfoort (Pelagic Regional Advisory Council, Netherlands), showed that mackerel management in the past 20 years in the Northeast Atlantic has been a success, thanks to the efforts of the EU and Norway. However, the good state of the stock was the reason why Iceland and Faroe Islands increased their catches unilaterally.
Ian Gatt (Pelagic Regional Advisory Council, Scotland), rejected claims that the current abundance of mackerel further in the north was due to climate change. He informed that the good stock is the result of careful stock management. Struan Stevenson (ECR, UK), highlighted the sharp contrast between mackerel stocks and those of other white fish, 80 percent of which are overfished in the EU. He added that Iceland and the Faroe Islands are getting a free ride on the back of the EU’s and Norway’s management efforts.
Isabella Lövin (Greens/EFA, SE), urged the EU “to be really firm” in its efforts to strengthen regional organisations and improve the international management of fisheries. Ulrike Rodust (S&D, DE), agreed that the unilateral catch increases by Iceland and the Faroes could make the mackerel fishery unsustainable, but acknowledged that “we are a long way from having a perfect fishery here in the EU”.
