Anger As Faroes Still Allow Russia To Fish In UK Waters

Fishing bosses have hit out at the Faroe Islands for letting Russian vessels trawl UK waters next year.

- Steph Spyro

Its parliament gave Moscow the right to catch tens of thousands of tonnes of blue whiting in an area of the North Atlantic it shares with the UK, despite the invasion of Ukraine.

Ian Gatt, head of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, said: “It is hugely disappointing, if not surprising. It was very clear what should have happened. Instead, Faroe has breached its moral obligations to the international community.”

Faroese fleets will be given access to 12,285 tonnes of cod in the Barents Sea plus 1,276 tonnes of haddock, 900 of flatfish and 4,000 of shrimp.

In return, Russian vessels can catch 72,000 tonnes of blue whiting, 13,000 tonnes of mackerel and 8,500 tonnes of herring. Mr Gatt said that “really sticks in the craw”.