Coveney: EU risking mackerel stocks

Fishing communities are at risk of losing valuable mackerel stocks unless the EU moves quickly to impose trade sanctions against Iceland, according to Marine Minister Simon Coveney.

As the battle escalates in the so-called mackerel wars, Mr Coveney said sanctions — which could include a ban on Icelandic fishing boats landing any catch at EU ports — would be in place in the autumn.

Tensions have grown since 2008 when Iceland, which previously caught little of the fish, unilaterally increased its quota after the numbers in its waters increased dramatically — believed to be as a result of warmer waters due to climate change.