An organisation representing Norwegian fishing vessel owners say the calls of Irish fishing leaders for a ban on Norwegian vessels in Irish waters is "unreasonable and erroneous".
The Norwegian Fishing Vessel Owners Association, Fiskebåt, strongly refuted claims their actions are the main cause of a recommended 22% cut in the EU mackerel quota next year.
Chief Executive of Fiskebåt Audun Maråk and the organisation’s Fisheries Scientist Gjert E. Dingsør said the claim of Aodh O Donnell, Chief Executive of Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO) "is unfair and incorrect".
Mr O'Donnell doubled down on his position this evening.
He said: "It isn’t comprehensible to those of us who adhere to science that Norwegian representatives defend the indefensible - their unsustainable overfishing."
"Their self-inflated quotas and systemic overfishing practices have put mackerel stock in critical condition," the IFPO Chief Executive added.
Last week, the IFPO said Ireland’s fishing fleet stands to lose more than €10m in 2025 from the proposed cut in mackerel quota.
The Pelagic Advisory Council wrote to the European Commission two weeks ago to reiterate "the critical importance of immediate action" following scientific advice recommending a 22% reduction in the Northeast Atlantic mackerel catches.
In the same letter, the Advisory Council said there was "undue pressure" on the stock and it urged the European Commission to intensify its diplomatic efforts, particularly through the "high-level dialogue group between the European Union and Norway".
Mr Maråk and Mr Dingsør, from the Norwegian Fishing Vessel Owners Association, said Norway is fishing a mackerel share comparable to what they fished before 2008 when Iceland increased their fisheries.
They added: "Norway increase its share in 2021 based on what we believe is rightfully ours according to three criteria."
The three criteria they cited are the amount of mackerel in Norwegian waters (zone affiliation), contributions to the science and monitoring of the stock, and historical fishing.
Fiskebåt say Norway and the EU had agreements on mackerel from 2010-2020 where they accepted a lower share in exchange for full access to fish mackerel in EU (UK) waters.
After Norway lost access to UK waters in 2021 after Brexit, the country returned to the share they "believe is correct" based on the three criteria mentioned earlier.
Last year, the UK and Norway reached an agreement on mackerel.
Norway-UK-Faroe Islands agreement 'open' to other states
Earlier this year, Norway, the UK and the Faroe Islands reached another agreement which they say is open to other coastal states.
The Norwegian Fishing Vessel Owners Association said that "both agreements have contributed to reducing overfishing",
They said: "We agree that every European country has a responsibility to fish sustainably to protect fish stocks. However, we do not agree with the claims that certain countries have.
"In relation to the current distribution criteria, the EU has a high share of the mackerel quota. The mackerel stock now has a more northeastern distribution than earlier."
Chief Executive of Fiskebåt Audun Maråk and the organisation’s Fisheries Scientist Gjert E. Dingsør said: "We sympathize with Irish fishermen after a poor Brexit deal, but it is not fair to send the bill to Norway.
"Norway has not changed our share of blue whiting, and a large part of the quantity we fish in Irish waters is from the EU-Norway bilateral agreement on quota trades. Thus, it does not make sense to restrict this access.
"We welcome the EU and other coastal states to join our mackerel agreement to ensure sustainable fisheries, as well as agreements on other common stocks."
Fishermen looking for State to 'stand up' for sector - TD
Speaking in the Dáil tonight, Fianna Fáil TD Christopher O’Sullivan said Norway, in conjunction with the UK and Faroe Islands, have set themselves "massively inflated quotas for mackerel, leading to a situation where scientific advice says [the European Union Northeast Atlantic mackerel] quota should be reduced by 22%".
Mr O’Sullivan said fish processors and fishermen are "looking for the State to stand up for the sector and most importantly is looking for Europe to intervene…before the species is brought to the brink".
In response to Mr O’Sullivan, the Taoiseach said he will discuss the issue with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue.
The Taoiseach added if the Minister believes it is appropriate, he is happy "to assist in escalating the matter at EU level".
Two weeks ago, the Pelagic Advisory Council told the European Commission that "the persistent lack of a comprehensive and sustainable sharing arrangement among Coastal States continues to put undue pressure on the mackerel stock".
The council said if urgent action is not taken, the "unsustainable exploitation of the mackerel stock will have long-term detrimental impacts on the EU fishing industry".
The Irish Fish Producers Organisation is calling for a renegotiation of international fishing deals at EU level following the Pelagic Advisory Council letter to the Commission.
"A change in approach is needed from those that act irresponsibly as we cannot persist with non-EU countries flouting sustainability. It's time to wake up as the mackerel stock is in critical condition," said IFPO Chief Executive Aodh O'Donnell.
A spokesperson for the Minister McConalogue said last week that the "European Commission has exclusive competence to negotiate with third countries, such as Norway, on behalf of the EU in relation to fishing opportunities, on the basis of a mandate agreed by Council".
"At EU level, the Minister continues to strongly articulate Ireland’s concerns," the spokesperson added.
The EU has three fisheries agreements with Norway, which include bilateral, trilateral and neighbouring agreements.
The bilateral arrangement covers the North Sea and the Atlantic, the trilateral agreement covers Denmark, Sweden and Norway and the neighbourhood arrangement covers the Swedish fishery in Norwegian waters of the North Sea.
IFPO Chief Executive Aodh O'Donnell said: "We agree that it is the European competence to negotiate on behalf of Ireland, but it is critical that Minister McConalogue and his officials push for [a] fair deal for Ireland at Council level. It is the Minister's role to represent the Irish fishing sector, and to fight for its survival.
"We cannot entertain side deals with non-EU countries that have a direct crippling impact on Ireland's coastal communities," said Mr O'Donnell.
