Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has today slammed Iceland and the Faroe Islands over their unilateral decision to increase mackerel landings, warning that this move could cause significant damage to the fishing industry in the Northern Isles.

Mr Carmichael was commenting as discussions on quota levels and the future of North Atlantic fisheries continued at a conference in the Faroes.

Scottish pelagic skippers have already staged two successful blockades of Nordic mackerel landings at Peterhead. These actions followed the decision of the Faroe Islands and Iceland to increase their mackerel quotas for this year to 85,000 and 130,000 tonnes respectively.

Commenting, Mr Carmichael said:

‘The decision of Iceland and the Faroe Islands to increase mackerel quotas so substantially can only have a detrimental impact on a stock that has been nurtured and developed carefully over many years. Fishermen in the Northern Isles now find themselves trapped between the CFP on one side and the greed and self-interest of the Nordic fleets on the other

‘I have discussed this issue with Richard Benyon, the UK fisheries Minister, on a number of occasions and I know that he shares my concerns. I have stressed how important it is that this situation is resolved urgently and will continue to work closely with officials at DEFRA.’