UK FISHERIES Minister Richard Benyon today roundly rejected the terms of a formal letter from the Icelandic Government justifying their stance on their controversial mackerel quota.

And the Minister urged both Faroe and Iceland to negotiate to reach a “fair and realistic” settlement of the issue which has seen both countries set major quotas for themselves in defiance of Norwegian and EU opinion.

Mr Benyon said:        

“I have received the demarche (letter) presented by the Icelandic Government on their reasons for increasing their mackerel quota and I strongly disagree.

“Iceland was invited to participate in the coastal states meeting group two years ago. Earlier this year Iceland attended negotiations on mackerel with the other countries interested in this fishery. These early negotiations were unsuccessful and no quotas were agreed. Subsequently, Iceland chose to unilaterally award itself an increased quota nearly six times what it had fished in recent years.  This is unacceptable behaviour that places a substantial burden on the fishery and could seriously undermine its long term sustainability.