Memo: Fisheries – Commission expresses concern for North-East Atlantic blue whiting stock after negotiations break down

On 20.2.01, the European Commission expressed grave concern at the effects of the breakdown of negotiations in Reykjavik, on 15 and 16 February, on the management of the stock of blue whiting in the North-East Atlantic. The coastal states concerned had been discussing management measures, which were urgently needed to regulate blue whiting fisheries. The main issue at stake was the sharing out of the total allowable catches among these Parties. This was the fifth time that they had met and despite substantial concessions by the European Union, some coastal states, particularly Norway and Iceland, were unwilling to continue, leading to a stalemate in the negotiations.