Regarding Icelandic Mackerel Fisheries in 2009
Regarding Icelandic Mackerel Fisheries in 2009
Iceland, a nation so depended on fisheries, is fully aware of the importance of responsible and sustainable fisheries and has been an active advocate for these principles at many different international forums.
Iceland is a coastal State with respect to the mackerel stock. Historic fishing patterns, including extensive mackerel fisheries on the border of the Icelandic exclusive economic zone, demonstrate that mackerel has consistently been in some abundance in waters under our national jurisdiction. In recent years the fisheries for mackerel has increased within Icelandic jurisdiction. In 2008 Icelandic vessels caught 112,000 tons of mackerel.
The management of mackerel in the North East Atlantic is in two steps, on one hand it is based on a coastal States agreement which comprises the fisheries inside the jurisdiction of the coastal States and on the other hand on a management agreed within the framework of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) which regulates the fisheries in international waters.
For a number of years, Iceland has requested to participate in the coastal State consultations on the management of mackerel, which is the appropriate forum for Iceland to take part in responsible management on this valuable stock. Iceland has been rejected by the other coastal States which have excluded Iceland from negotiations on the annual total allowable catch and its allocation. Consequently, Iceland has been forced to object, in accordance with the NEAFC Convention; to the management measures for mackerel established within the NEAFC framework and have therefore not been bound by that agreement.
Icelandic authorities are contributing to the conservation and management of the mackerel stock by setting a management measures, including limit of total allowable catch for Icelandic vessels fishing mackerel. As in all commercial fisheries in Iceland, vessels in the mackerel fishery must have commercial fishing permit that is issued by the Directorate of Fisheries and all landings are reported and registered.
Iceland is in full right as a coastal State to utilize mackerel; however the right to use a shared stock comes with an obligation to cooperate with other coastal States according to the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea. Iceland has for years sought to cooperate with the other coastal States for this purpose but have so far been rejected. The conservation and management of the mackerel stock is the collective responsibility of all the coastal States and it is paradox that at the same time as Iceland is accused of not being responsible it is excluded from the management consultations by the other coastal States.
Iceland has invited the other coastal States to a meeting in Reykjavik in mid-april on future management of the mackerel in the northeast Atlantic.