THE next few days are likely to prove crucial for the Scottish fishing fleet as talks resume between the European Union and Norway over fish quotas with mackerel playing a large part.
Negotiations broke down before Christmas which put some parts of the main annual round of quota talks on hold for the time being. But now there are renewed hopes that a deal with Norway can be secured before the end of the month.
When the talks failed late last year it led to angry calls by some sections of the Norwegian fishing industry for a ban on EU fishing in Norwegian waters, but this was rejected by Oslo which preferred a negotiated settlement. However, the threat remains if there is no deal.
The Scottish Fisheries Federation, some of whose members fish in Norwegian grounds under a special arrangement, is more upbeat however.SFF president Ian Gatt said: “We are fairly confident that an agreement between the EU and Norway will be reached this week, which will hopefully bring to an end the current period of uncertainty over the final quota levels for 2010. It will also enable Scottish boats to gain access to Norwegian waters."
Norway and the Faroe Islands have already reached their own separate deals on shared fishing arrangements, which gives further hope that an EU deal can be reached. week.
With EU officials estimating that more than 80 per cent of stocks in European waters are overfished, debates on quotas both within the EU and with foreign partners have got tougher and tougher in the past couple of years.
Should people be 'stimulated' to eat white fish alternatives to cod?
