Faroe Islands oppose Russia’s mackerel fishing exclusion

The Faroe Islands have refused to support a proposal by the EU, UK, and Iceland to exclude Russia from mackerel fishing in international waters, according to a report by Faroese broadcaster KVF.

The proposal, which was agreed upon at a recent Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) meeting, would bar Russian vessels from landing or transshipping mackerel catches in European ports and from receiving services such as refueling. It also sets a provisional quota allowing Russia to fish 1,495 tons of mackerel in international waters this year.

Faroese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries Bárður á Steig Nielsen stated that the Faroe Islands have maintained a special position, opting not to take steps that could jeopardize fisheries cooperation with Russia. He argued that the proposed quota of 1,495 tons is meaningless and that the exclusion measures could have serious consequences for bilateral relations.

The EU, however, seeks to tighten sanctions against Russia, including a potential full ban on transshipping mackerel catches in NEAFC waters and extending restrictions to international waters as well. The EU has acknowledged the Faroe Islands’ special position in its official documentation.

NEAFC members have set a total mackerel catch limit of nearly 300,000 tons for this year, despite scientific advice from ICES recommending a cap of 174,000 tons. Russia has historically been allocated around 7.5% of the international mackerel quota, but its current self-declared share of 67,548 tons far exceeds that proportion.