Ireland calls for EU action over mackerel

Ireland calls for EU action over mackerel. At this week’s Fisheries Council, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD raised the issue of very large unilateral mackerel quota increases by Norway and Faroes in recent weeks and the ongoing impact of Brexit on the Irish fishing industry. The Minister called for action by the European Commission. On mackerel the Minister said: “As the EU’s largest mackerel shareholder, I am extremely concerned at the highly regrettable decision by Norway, Iceland and the Faroes to set inflated and unjustified unilateral mackerel quotas. Norway increased its share of the stock by 55% on a unilateral basis for 2021. This was then mirrored by Faeroes and Iceland continued to set an unacceptable high share of the stock. I made clear to fellow Ministers and the Commissioner that if those parties are unwilling to reverse their unilateral actions, then the EU must take strong action using all possible measures, ...