BRUSSELS, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- The Scottish government wants to find a balance between fish conservation and commercial interests at fisheries talks this week in Brussels, an official said.
Brussels hosts European talks on the fisheries sector. Edinburgh and other members of the European community have expressed frustration over that lack of consensus on fish harvests.
Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said his government is looking for the best way to balance sustainability with commercial viability.
"We are again facing a situation where this valuable stock will be overfished, due to the irresponsible actions of the Faroes and Iceland," he said in a statement. "I will now be calling on the EU to make every effort to keep the negotiations open and failing that to take strong action that makes clear this behavior is unacceptable."
Iceland walked away from talks with Europe in November and a delegation from the Faroe Islands left the negotiating table Thursday.
European lawmakers have complained that Iceland and the autonomous Danish Faroe Islands are exploiting European accomplishments in the management of mackerel stocks.
