Faroese vessel accused of excessive fishing in Icelandic waters

A Faroese fishing vessel has been accused by Icelandic fishermen of repeatedly exceeding its cod quota in Icelandic waters, according to a report by Icelandic maritime news outlet Fiskifréttir.

The Icelandic Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (Havstovan) confirmed to the publication that inspections of Faroese freezer-liners have been conducted, though such checks primarily rely on data provided by the vessels themselves and the Faroese Coast Guard. Boarding Faroese ships is only done in cooperation with Icelandic patrol and rescue services.

Icelandic fishermen have demanded that Faroese vessels be required to offload their catches in Iceland for inspection to verify compliance with quotas. However, the Marine Institute stated that this is a political and intergovernmental issue, not within its authority to enforce.

Official catch reports are also used to monitor fishing activity, though the accuracy of these reports has been called into question by Icelandic industry representatives.