Deal on Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic

European Commission

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 12 March 2014

Deal on Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic

The European Commission welcomes the five-year arrangement for mackerel in the North-East Atlantic, which was reached in London on 12 March between the EU, Faroe Islands and Norway.

The arrangement, which makes room for another Coastal State to join at a later stage, establishes a number of important principles, including a commitment to sustainable fisheries, a sharing between the Parties, and a commitment to establish a new long-term management plan in 2014 following ICES advice.

European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, said: “This is a significant day for international fisheries. This landmark agreement testifies to the EU's commitment to sustainable fishing at home and abroad. The talks were long and intensive and given the potential risk to the stock, the stakes could not have been much higher. This agreement ensures the long term sustainability of this valuable stock. The door is still open for Iceland to join the other Parties in the near future."

The arrangement, which will run until 2018, was reached after a series of intensive high-level meetings held between the European Union and the other interested Parties. Throughout the discussions the EU has prioritised both a return to the sustainability of the mackerel stock and a fair sharing arrangement for all Coastal States. The arrangement comes after several years without common Coastal State management of this important fish stock.

The Parties have specifically set aside a reserve for the benefit of any new adherents to the agreement.