Mackerel negotiations starting today in Edinburgh
A new round of negotiations between the EU and Coastal States on mackerel is starting today, 3d March, in Edinburgh until 4th March. This round of negotiations has been set at the EU’s initiative in order to settle a final attempt to secure consensus among the Parties on the unresolved mackerel dispute. Given the proximity of the Parties' positions, the prospects for an end to the four year long dispute between the North-East Atlantic fishing parties – EU, Norway, Iceland and Faroe Islands, are good. An agreement would be of benefit to all of the Parties' fishing industries by restoring sustainability and stability to the fisheries, in particular for the EU and Norway who have the major mackerel fisheries.
The first round of consultations between the EU and Norway on bilateral fisheries arrangements for 2014 was adjourned on 14 February largely as a result of the unresolved sharing mackerel issue.
A Coastal State Agreement on mackerel should greatly facilitate the conclusion of bilateral fisheries arrangements for 2014 between the EU and Norway. These fisheries arrangements are of key significance to EU fishermen in the North Sea, Skagerrak, and North Norway waters. These negotiations will also be held in Edinburgh between 5-7 March.
