Minister of Fisheries Jón Bjarnason decided yesterday to place a ban on further mackerel fishing in Icelandic waters this season, effective immediately. The decision was made since the issued quota of 112,000 tons is almost finished.
Fishing in Iceland. Copyright: Icelandic Photo Agency.
It is clear that it will prove difficult to fish Norwegian-Icelandic herring without mackerel accidentally being caught as well and therefore there is a risk of the quota being exceeded, mbl.is reports.
The minister has also changed the regulations on the control of fishing from the Norwegian-Icelandic herring stock so that Icelandic ships can only catch herring above a latitude of 66°N and the mackerel catch cannot exceed ten percent of the total catch in every three-week period. This amendment has also taken affect.
Other mackerel fishing states have criticized Iceland for issuing a unilateral quota on mackerel this season.
Click here to read more about the controversy.
