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AS Scotland's fishing industry warned it was teetering on the brink, EU Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki said she fully understood the strong feelings over the stance by Iceland and Faroe islands on the mackerel issue.
Speaking after a maritime conference in Aberdeen, she warned the Faroese and Iceland they would face sanctions if they did not stop ignoring quota agreements.She received a gift of mackerel to highlight the concerns of the industry. She said she was determined to protect Scotland's interests.
Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson said:he was heartened by Commissioner Damanaki's tough stance on this issue and she remains committed to ensuring the EU is not pushed around.
"Iceland and the Faroes have taken a totally unjustifiable risk with North Atlantic mackerel stocks, which EU fishermen have worked hard to protect in recent years," he added.However, there was less enthusiasm for Ms Damanaki's warning that the Scottish fleet, already faced with losing up to 40 vessels, cold face further cuts.
She told the P&J the European Commission had to act on scientific advice that many stocks were still under pressure. On a more positive note, she said she would look closely at proposals – the so-called Declaration of Ardoe –presented to her yesterday at Blairs, near Aberdeen, by fisheries ministers from Holyrood, Westminster, Denmark and Norway.
Bertie Armstrong, SFF chief executive said a key point the federation wants to make to the commissioner is the huge effort that has been made by the Scottish fleet in ensuring sustainable harvesting.“The EC must recognise and reward the considerable sacrifice made by our fishermen by easing the current punishing fishing restrictions."
He warned: “A large number of whitefish and prawn boats are teetering on the brink of viability and many segments of the fleet simply will not survive if there is any further tightening of the screw. For fishermen to have faith in fisheries management they must be rewarded for their efforts. At the moment the fishing industry is enduring increasing restrictions year-after-year despite there being signs of fish stock recovery. The industry can only take so much and the point has now been reached for these restrictions to be eased.”
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