The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation and the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association will be pressing for a deal that does not jeopardise Scotland’s share in the international fishery and which also protects the stock from over-fishing. Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, said that the talk for mackerel quotas is a defining moment for our fishermen and the implications from the talks could shape the future direction of Scottish fishing industry.
There is an urgent need to find a resolution to the dispute over the decision by Iceland and the Faroes to self-allocate massively increased mackerel quotas this year. According to Gatt it is essential that a sensible deal is reached this week. He said that previously they had a long-term management plan in place for mackerel that has resulted in a healthy stock but this is now in jeopardy due to the irresponsible actions of Iceland and the Faroes.
