The European Union has protested against a fishing arrangement between Britain, Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands, warning it could cause irreversible damage to the North Atlantic mackerel population.
In a statement on Tuesday, December 23rd, the European Commission said the deal was agreed without prior consultation with the EU and sets catch limits far above scientific recommendations.
Under the accord announced on December 16, the four parties agreed on a total allowable catch of more than 299,000 tonnes of mackerel for 2026. The commission said this figure is 72% higher than the level advised by scientists and comes at a time when, reportedly, the stock is already below safe biological limits.
The EU warned that such levels of fishing risk accelerating the collapse of the mackerel population and said it would seek further clarification from those involved.
French fishing groups also criticised the agreement, arguing it allows the countries to overfish a vulnerable stock while continuing to export mackerel to the EU, undermining European fishermen with unfair competition.
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