Britain and Iceland go to war

STEED · 08-11-10, 07:30 AM

Well then lets not hang around.

Quote:

The European Union could impose trade sanctions against Iceland or stop its ships from entering EU ports in an emerging "mackerel war".

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...l-2049099.html

UnderseaLcpl · 08-11-10, 07:38 AM

Quote:

By contrast, the EU Common Fisheries Policy, which Britain joined on its accession to the Common Market in 1973 – is considered to have been a disaster. A third of all fish are thrown back dead from boats, either because they are the wrong species, a legal but imperfect size, or the quota has already been met.

As a result, cod in the North Sea has plunged to 3 per cent of its natural abundance, despite a recent recovery. And much of the cod sold in Britain now comes from Iceland.

So this is the source of all this contention? Trade protectionism that made an industry uncompetitive so now it wants more trade protectionism? Sounds about par for the course for Britain.

NeonSamurai · 08-11-10, 07:55 AM

Looks more like environmental concerns when one country is overfishing beyond what scientists believe the stocks can handle.

Quote:

The rising tension follows Iceland's unilateral decision to catch three times as much mackerel this year as the EU considers reasonable, prompting a similar move by the Danish-owned Faroe Islands. Together with the amounts traditionally taken by the EU and Norway, the quotas would exceed the sustainable catch by a third and threaten a success story in European fishing, which has been dogged by political dithering and national self-interest.

This doesn't mean though that the EU policy isn't stupid when it comes to throwing over dead fish that were caught but not the right species.

UnderseaLcpl · 08-11-10, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

Looks more like environmental concerns when one country is overfishing beyond what scientists believe the stocks can handle.

This doesn't mean though that the EU policy isn't stupid when it comes to throwing over dead fish that were caught but not the right species.

I see those as one and the same. Environmental concerns are often a smokescreen thrown up to disguise some other agenda. EU policy mandates waste through regulation and quotas, British fisheries become uncompetitive due to overfishing, sudden;y the environment is a concern so the EU must do something about it.

I would also venture that there is probably a subsidy at work in this fishing industry, and because subsidies create a lack of incentive to innovate or economize, British fisheries are probably less competitive to begin with. Iceland may have subsidies, too, but thay may be better-implemented.

jumpy · 08-11-10, 08:17 AM

No mention in that article about how the fish quotas are sold/traded in british central fishmarkets?
Not sure how true that is, but I did see a program recently that was talking about the fishing industry in UK. What we lost in fishing fleets was regained in having a central trading market for the fishing catch? Or something to that effect anyway. It must be more complicated.

Task Force · 08-11-10, 08:27 AM

Careful, make them too angry and they will use the volcano on you again...

Sailor Steve · 08-11-10, 08:28 AM

I predict Britain will win. The only threat Iceland can make is to withold all the ice, which won't work because the Brits like their beer warm anyway.

jumpy · 08-11-10, 10:06 AM

Hmm, mod spending cutbacks, less new ships in the navy... underfunded navy vs volcano? I don't much care for those odds

@steve
Never mind the warm beer, where will I buy frozen microwave meals from in the future?!

papa_smurf · 08-11-10, 10:27 AM

Quote:

I predict Britain will win. The only threat Iceland can make is to withold all the ice, which won't work because the Brits like their beer warm anyway.

Too right, nowt wrong with a warm beer

.

Gerald · 08-11-10, 10:34 AM

Sailor Steve · 08-11-10, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpy

@steve
Never mind the warm beer, where will I buy frozen microwave meals from in the future?!

Umm, is it too late to change my bet?

jumpy · 08-11-10, 01:21 PM

dunno, what odds you wanna give me if I put my money on the volcano and shares in a chain-store for reasonably priced frozen meals?

Oh No! 'mum's gone to iceland'! disaster! their plan to hold us hostage is bearing fruit... I mean frozen summer fruits... fruits and cream and pizza slices argh will their frozen leverage never end?

STEED · 08-11-10, 02:23 PM

What's in it for the EU?

UnderseaLcpl · 08-11-10, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

What's in it for the EU?

What do you mean?

STEED · 08-11-10, 02:39 PM

There not going to do a thing unless there is some sort of back hander for them.

Cough..."money"...cough.

08-11-10, 08:17 AM	#5
jumpy Admiral Join Date: May 2003 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 2,139 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	No mention in that article about how the fish quotas are sold/traded in british central fishmarkets? Not sure how true that is, but I did see a program recently that was talking about the fishing industry in UK. What we lost in fishing fleets was regained in having a central trading market for the fishing catch? Or something to that effect anyway. It must be more complicated. __________________ when you’ve been so long in the desert, any water, no matter how brackish, looks like life

08-11-10, 08:27 AM	#6
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Careful, make them too angry and they will use the volcano on you again... __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

08-11-10, 08:28 AM	#7
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I predict Britain will win. The only threat Iceland can make is to withold all the ice, which won't work because the Brits like their beer warm anyway. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-11-10, 10:06 AM	#8
jumpy Admiral Join Date: May 2003 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 2,139 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	Hmm, mod spending cutbacks, less new ships in the navy... underfunded navy vs volcano? I don't much care for those odds @steve Never mind the warm beer, where will I buy frozen microwave meals from in the future?! __________________ when you’ve been so long in the desert, any water, no matter how brackish, looks like life

08-11-10, 10:34 AM	#10
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	mackerel........right! __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

08-11-10, 01:21 PM	#12
jumpy Admiral Join Date: May 2003 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 2,139 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	dunno, what odds you wanna give me if I put my money on the volcano and shares in a chain-store for reasonably priced frozen meals? Oh No! 'mum's gone to iceland'! disaster! their plan to hold us hostage is bearing fruit... I mean frozen summer fruits... fruits and cream and pizza slices argh will their frozen leverage never end? __________________ when you’ve been so long in the desert, any water, no matter how brackish, looks like life

08-11-10, 02:23 PM	#13
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	What's in it for the EU? __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

08-11-10, 02:39 PM	#15
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	There not going to do a thing unless there is some sort of back hander for them. Cough..."money"...cough. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!