Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP and Scottish Conservative Fisheries Spokesman, has repeated his call for Scottish consumers to buy Scottish and EU-caught mackerel products and to boycott Icelandic and Faroese-caught products. Speaking at Question Time yesterday in the Scottish Parliament, Jamie raised the issue with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead.
In recent times, Iceland and the Faroes have started fishing vastly increased amounts of mackerel outwith any agreed international management agreements. This has led to fears for the sustainability of the North East Atlantic mackerel stock, which is crucial to the Scottish pelagic fleet and worth around £130 million annually to the Scottish economy.
The EU previously agreed to impose sanctions on Iceland and the Faroes, but such imposition has failed to materialise.
Commenting, Jamie said:
“The Cabinet Secretary was correct to point out that the most recent scientific advice on the health of the mackerel stock - which I welcomed, along with pelagic fishing sector representatives - was extremely positive, but this is despite the irresponsible overfishing of the stock by Iceland and the Faroes.
“I would continue to encourage Scottish consumers to ask for Scottish or EU-caught mackerel and mackerel products as we can have full confidence these are fished for in a sustainable and responsible way.
“I am aware that further talks between the EU and Iceland and the Faroes to try to settle the current disagreements are imminent, and I want the EU to negotiate as hard as possible to ensure a deal that underpins the long-term sustainability of the crucially important North East Atlantic mackerel stock”.