Cope welcomes agreement on Ireland’s mackerel quota for 2012

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP, a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries has today welcomed the agreement on mackerel between the European Union and Norway.

Ireland will receive a quota of approximately 68,000 tonnes for 2012, the same as last year. However, due to the overfishing of mackerel by Iceland and the Faroe Islands, Ireland’s share of future quotas may be at risk.

Within the European Parliament, Pat the Cope on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries is bringing forward new trade sanctions, that when introduced will target Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

Pat the Cope said today “I am pleased that we have maintained our quota of mackerel for the coming year. Mackerel is an extremely important and valuable fish stock for Ireland and in particular the North West”.

“The actions of Iceland and the Faroe Islands are unacceptable and threaten the sustainability of the stock. At all times, I emphasise the importance of an urgent resolution to this unnecessary dispute. This week in the European Parliament, I successfully amended an enlargement report on Iceland to call on the Coastal States to resume negotiations.”

“I met with the Norwegian Secretary of State for Fisheries during a recent visit to Oslo. I will go to Iceland on the 2nd of April and I will meet with the Icelandic Minister for Fisheries.”

“My report widens the sanctions to include all fish and fishery products. The report has received broad political support in the European Parliament. I sincerely hope the matter will be resolved and sanctions will not be required. That said, my report will ensure that the measures will have real economic consequences for countries involved in unsustainable fishing practices.”