New Iceland-Faroe alliance could boost fish shipments to UK

UK - Two of the most important fishing countries in the north Atlantic zone have formed a key new alliance in a move which could eventually boost fish supplies to the Humber - and the rest of the UK.

Iceland's Premier Halldor Asgrimsson travelled to Thorshavn at the weekend to meet his Faroese counterpart, Joannes Eidesgarrd on what they both described as "an exciting new era in co-operation".

The meeting explored new fishing related business links and other areas of mutual interest. The two countries are vital suppliers of fish to the Humber and Scottish markets with shipping companies like Samskip regularly bringing over 60,000 tonnes of Icelandic and Faroe fish a year to Grimsby and Hull via the Humber.

Processors in Grimsby have expressed the hope that this co-operation will see an increase in fish shipments.

Iceland employs almost 3,000 people in fish processing in Grimsby alone, while the Faroe Seafood Company relaunched its presence in the two last year.

The main aims are to forge a strong alliance and promote the free movement of fish, capital and other goods and services between the two countries, in effect creating an Iceland-Faroes common market.

Privatisation of some companies in the Faroes was also on the agenda and the Icelandic premier was able to recount his own country's experiences in this area. As fisheries nations and nearest neighbours in the middle of the North Atlantic, cooperation on the management of marine resources has long been at the heart of relations between the Faroes and Iceland.

Source: FishUpdate