Coastal states have gathered this week in Clonakilty, on Ireland’s south-west coast, to discuss how to manage and share the mackerel stock.
Audun Maråk from the Norwegian fleet organisation Fiskebåt said he hopes for progress this autumn towards a deal that will cut overfishing.
A trilateral pact between Norway, the UK, and the Faroe Islands already limits catches. Still, Maråk stressed that more needs to be done.
Russia and Iceland in focus
The main sticking point is that both Russia and Iceland are fishing well above the recognised sharing keys. Russia is not even recognised as a coastal state, yet its vessels operate close to Norway’s economic zone.
Maråk warned that unless they reduce their unilateral quotas, overfishing will continue.
Next steps in talks
Norway is represented in Clonakilty by Christian Halstensen and Audun Maråk. A follow-up meeting is already scheduled for mid-October in London.
Meanwhile, the official quota advice for 2026 will be published on 30 September.
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