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The SPFA says that the January Mackerel Fishery has started well and they are looking forward to the outcome of the quota sharing negotiations
The Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA) says that the mackerel season for 2023 has started well and they are looking forward to the outcome of the quota sharing negotiations for Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting at the end of the month, and hope that there wil be a sharing arrangement in place for the mackerel by the end of March.
Posting on their website, the SPFA said:
“The traditional start-of-the-year mackerel fishery for the Scottish fleet is progressing well, with boats reporting good marks of fish.
“Fishing commenced in early January west of Shetland and boats are now in the North Rona area as they follow the south-westerly migration of the mackerel shoals. The fish caught is being landed into Lerwick and Peterhead, and processors’ report that demand from the markets is good. It is anticipated the fishery will conclude in early February.
“Meanwhile, negotiations among coastal states on quota shares for Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting will get underway in the last week of January, with talks resuming on mackerel shares shortly afterwards. It is hoped that the mackerel talks will conclude by the end of March.”