Ireland’s pelagic sector faces continued uncertainty after international talks on managing the North-East Atlantic mackerel stock collapsed without agreement.
The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) said it is “dismayed” that Coastal States again failed to set a shared quota for 2026, warning the fleet will struggle to survive amid significant quota cuts.
No Deal on TAC and EU Left Isolated
According to KFO, the EU proposed setting the total allowable catch (TAC) in line with scientific advice, alongside new management measures.
But the UK, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland rejected the proposal and held private talks outside the EU. The organisation fears these states will continue setting unilateral quotas above scientific advice, risking damage to the stock.
Disputes Extend Beyond Mackerel
The KFO said disagreements went further than mackerel. Some states backed Russia over the EU on broader pelagic issues, including a proposed ban on transhipment at sea and efforts to reduce fishing in international waters.
A proposed blue whiting sharing deal also failed, with several delegations voting against an EU plan for sustainable management.
KFO Calls for Trade Measures
The group argued that diplomacy “has not and will not solve the crisis”. It urged the EU to use targeted trade measures against non-cooperating states, as permitted under recent EU legislation.