Mackerel Fisheries in 2011

At the final meeting of the four coastal States conducting mackerel fisheries in the Northeast-Atlantic, it became clear that agreement will not be reached on the share of Iceland in mackerel fisheries next year. The meeting was held in Oslo 25-26 November with the participation of the EU, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, while Russia attended the meeting as observer, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.

In the next couple of weeks, bilateral fisheries consultations are planned between the EU and Norway, the EU and the Faroe Islands, and Norway and the Faroe Islands. These three parties have planned a meeting some time in the week after next on the share of the Faroe Islands in the mackerel fisheries. It will then become clear whether an agreement will be reached among these three parties. Presumably, the EU and Norway will not take decisions on their own mackerel fisheries before then.

At an informal meeting between Iceland and Russia in Oslo, the latter informed of its intention to determine a share for next year of 5-6% of the total catch of mackerel, which is similar as this year. Russian vessels have fished for mackerel in international waters and have also had some fishing opportunities within the Faroese zone.

Jón Bjarnason, Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, has decided that Iceland will have an unchanged share in the mackerel fisheries in 2011, taking into account the increase in the total allowable catch recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The Icelandic authorities will furthermore encourage the other coastal States to take this into account in their quota decisions with the view that the total mackerel fisheries will not exceed the recommended level.

Once the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands have negotiated or taken decisions, as the case may be, on their mackerel quotas for next year, the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture will issue a regulation determining the Icelandic quota in tons, taking into account the expected total catch from the stock.

The 8,000 tons that were not caught from this year´s quota will be transferred to next year and will not be subtracted from next year´s quota.