Herring fisheries: potential measures against the Faroe Islands
The European Commission has today informed the Faroe Islands authorities of the possibility of introducing restricting measures against them on herring quotas issue. Quotas on Atlanto-Scandian herring are settled after both consultation and agreement of all partner countries fishing herring and associated species in the Atlantic and Northern seas.
Faroe Islands have decided to withdraw from the consultations for 2013 and to increase their fishing quota of that species, while other partners agreed on a reduction of herring fishing quotas.
Commissioner Maria Damanaki said: "I am concerned about the persistent unsustainable behaviour of the Faroe Islands. They are acting in full disrespect of the necessary science-based management measures. While the EU fishermen and all other coastal states' fishermen are taking a serious hit through a 26% reduction of their quotas of last year, the Faroes are increasing unilaterally their quota by 145%."
