Increased 2017 mackerel TAC announced
1st November 2016
Pelagic fishermen in Britain and Ireland will have increased catching opportunities for north-east Atlantic mackerel in 2017, following an agreement reached at the Coastal State negotiations between the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands in Clonakilty, reports David Linkie.
Under the agreement, which follows scientific advice from ICES, a TAC of 1,020,996 tonnes was set. This will give the UK a quota of around 240,000t and Ireland 86,429t.
Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, said: “We welcome that agreement has been reached at this stage in the annual negotiating process as it brings stability and certainty to the 2017 fishery.
“The good news is that according to the science the stock is in good health, which has enabled an increase in the quota that also ensures the sustainability of the fishery. Scottish caught mackerel carries the prestigious MSC ecolabel, which means that consumers can buy the fish safe in the knowledge that it comes from a sustainable source.”
Sean O’Donoghue, KFO chief executive said: “This outcome is good news for our pelagic fishermen and reflects not only the scientific advice but also the reality on the fishing grounds that there is a very large stock of mackerel which continues to grow. Over the next number of years I do expect that we will continue to see a very large mackerel stock size, given the good recruitment coming into the fishery.”
He added, “The current sharing arrangement for mackerel was agreed in 2014 between three parties only – EU, Faroes and Norway and is due to expire in 2018. I expect that negotiations on a new agreement will commence next year, and this affords an opportunity to re-negotiate the 20% reduction in our share that occurred as part of that agreement. This reduction has been masked over the last number of years, given the very large mackerel stock, but should the mackerel stock decline in the long term, the reduction of 20% in our share would mean significant losses of mackerel fishing opportunities for Ireland.”
Read the latest commercial fishing news from Fishing News here.
Pelagic fishermen in Britain and Ireland will have increased catching opportunities for north-east Atlantic mackerel in 2017, following an agreement reached at the Coastal State negotiations between the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands in Clonakilty, reports David Linkie. Under the agreement, which follows scientific advice from ICES, a TAC of 1,020,996 tonnes was set. This will give the UK a quota of around 240,000t and Ireland 86,429t. Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, said: “We welcome that agreement has been reached at this stage in the annual negotiating process as it brings stability and certainty to the 2017 fishery. “The good news is that according to the science the stock is in good health, which has enabled an increase in the quota that also ensures the sustainability of the fishery. Scottish caught mackerel carries the prestigious MSC ecolabel, which means that consumers can buy the fish safe in the knowledge that it comes from a sustainable source.” Sean O’Donoghue, KFO chief executive said: “This outcome is good news for our pelagic fishermen and reflects not only the scientific advice but also the reality on the fishing grounds that there is a very large stock of mackerel which continues to grow. Over the next number of years I do expect that we will continue to see a very large mackerel stock size, given the good recruitment coming into the fishery.” He added, “The current sharing arrangement for mackerel was agreed in 2014 between three parties only – EU, Faroes and Norway and is due to expire in 2018. I expect that negotiations on a new agreement will commence next year, and this affords an opportunity to re-negotiate the 20% reduction in our share that occurred as part of that agreement. This reduction has been masked over the last number of years, given the very large mackerel stock, but should the mackerel stock decline in the long term, the reduction of 20% in our share would mean significant losses of mackerel fishing opportunities for Ireland.” Read the latest commercial fishing news from Fishing News here.
