The ‘catch’ in Iceland’s EU negotiations

Civitas, 19 August 2010

Iceland’s EU accession negotiations have got off to a stormy start due to its determination to increase its fishing quotas, writes Natalie Hamill.  The Nordic country, which was granted EU candidate status less than a month ago, is determined to increase its mackerel catch quota, despite warnings it will damage its relations with the EU.

The unusually warm weather has encouraged large shoals of mackerel to migrate from EU territories to more northerly waters, where they have become the unwitting pawns in a supranational political game. Despite contradicting EU fishing policy, which aims for the sustainability of marine resources, Iceland set its mackerel catch quota at 130,000 tonnes for 2010 (3 times the amount the EU believes is ‘reasonable’). Iceland were accused of setting a bad example when, just hours later, the Faroe Islands announced a similar move. These steep increases in mackerel catches have triggered outrage from many within the EU, which maintains strict control over member states’ fishing practices through the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Scotland’s Fisheries Secretary, Richard Lochhead, called Iceland ‘short-sighted and selfish’.

Negotiations on the CFP are an important part of the EU accession process and, as an official EU candidate state, Iceland is expected to discuss workable compromises. The EU’s CFP preaches sustainability (it has the final say on the fishing quotas for national fleets) and also equal access for member states. As such, the EU argues that Iceland’s increased quota for the amount of mackerel that can be landed within its territory contradicts both of these ideals.

Maria Damanaki, the EU Fisheries Commissioner, has warned that if negotiations on Icelandic fishing rights fail, then the EU may not allow Icelandic fishing vessels into EU waters in the coming years.  Ms Damanaki said ‘I cannot guarantee that we will continue to exchange fishing possibilities with the Faroe islands and Iceland in 2011’.

But for Iceland it isn’t so simple. 12% of Iceland’s GDP depends on its fishing industry, which employs over 7% of the workforce. Fishing is a ‘crucial’ foundation of the country’s economy and one they are not likely to give up without a fight. Mackerel may be a relatively new breed in Icelandic waters, however in the past the country has been allowed to adopt a protectionist stance on its fishing policies. A member of the European Economic Area (EEA) for 16 years, Iceland has been allowed to retain control of its Exclusive Economic Zone (200 miles) for independent fishing.

The EU’s CFP regularly invites criticism from both member states, and those further a field. Despite 80% of EU fish stocks being recorded as ‘overfished’, the EU is failing to achieve its own ambition of sustainable fishing. Its controversial use of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) frequently results in large quantities of dead fish being thrown back into the sea as the quotas make it illegal for them to be landed. Also, members states are charged with implementing the fishing policy – the chance of their enforcing it equally are invariably slim.  There is little the policy can offer Iceland, which conversely, has a reputation of managing its fish stocks better than the EU.

It is unlikely that Iceland’s EU membership negotiations will flounder altogether, despite the recent souring of Icelandic-EU relations. However, as it currently stands, there is little incentive for Iceland to open up its waters and join the CFP; persuading the country to relinquish sovereignty over an area so central to its economy could prove to be more than a little tricky.