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FISHING leaders in Ireland have warned that overfishing of mackerel by Iceland and the Faroe Islands is putting up to 1,500 fishing jobs at risk.
The claim adds further pressure on the European Union to take stronger action against the two 'maverick' fishing states a - move which would almost certainly be supported by fishermen in Scotland.
Ireland's Minister for Agriculture and Marine Simon Coveney has said that the overfishing of mackerel by Faroese and Icelandic vessels is putting the industry and jobs in Ireland in jeopardy.
He has repeated calls for sanctions over and above what has already been announced to be taken against Iceland and the Faroes who have given themselves for mackerel in defiance of a sustained international outcry.
The warnings come on top of reports of super trawlers from Asia and other parts of the world moving into the northerly mackerel grounds, including the world's largest trawler, the Lafayette, which has been given a licence by the Faroes to fish its waters for mackerel.
Sean O'Donoghue of the Killybegs Fishermen's Association said if the situation was allowed to continue it would decimate the fishing industry in this part of Ireland. He maintained that the actions of Iceland and the Faroe Islands are putting 1,500 jobs at risk in Ireland. Last month Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said the EU was taking too long to formulate action against Reykjavik and the Faroes.
So far there has been no official comment from either Iceland or the Faroe Islands, but the pelagic fleets of the two country's are continuing to fish unabated for mackerel which is being landed in their respective countries and processed.
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