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The coastal states have entered into a new coastal state agreement for mackerel in 2022
The EU, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom have today signed an agreement on a total quota of 794,920 tonnes of mackerel for 2022.
This is in line with the ICES International Council’s recommendation and entails a reduction from the quota for 2021 which was 852,284 tons. The distribution of shares is not yet clear, but the parties have agreed to start work on this as early as possible in 2022. The issue of zone access has not been resolved either.
“The scientific advice shows that the mackerel stock is declining, and we have taken this seriously when this year’s quota was set,” says the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs Bjørnar Skjæran.
The coastal states also agree to set up a working group to gather information on the spread of mackerel. The purpose is to get a good basis for further negotiations on quota distribution. The working group will present its report no later than 28 February next year, and the parties have agreed to meet in March for further negotiations.
“It is good that the coastal states have set up a working group to look at the spread of mackerel. Good information is a prerequisite for a good agreement on distribution and should be able to help counteract overfishing of mackerel,” says Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs Skjæran.
Read the details of the agreement: Mackerel – Agreed Record – 27 Oct 2021.pdf