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9 December 2010
Last updated at 01:29 ET
A fresh round of talks aimed at resolving the row over mackerel quotas, which has angered Scottish fishermen, is due to get under way.
The meeting, in Copenhagen, is between officials from the EU, Norway and the Faroes.
Iceland and the Faroes sparked outrage earlier this year by unilaterally setting mackerel quotas in their own waters.
However talks have so far failed to settle the dispute.
Iceland last week announced that its mackerel quota for next year would be the same as this year.
Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association, said he was hopeful agreement could be reached.
He said: "The Faroese are one of our nearest neighbours and have been a long-standing partner in mackerel management for over 20 years.
"We are encouraged that they are still willing to talk and hopefully this will pave the way for an agreement with other coastal states over the next couple of days.
"However, whilst reaching a deal is important, it must not be done so at any cost and it needs to ensure that Scotland's traditional mackerel catching rights are not compromised."
'Joint conclusion' Mr Gatt added: "The mackerel stock in the north east Atlantic is an incredibly precious resource that requires careful and integrated management to ensure future sustainability."
Iceland last week denied it had walked away from talks.
The country's key negotiator on mackerel fisheries, Tomas Heidar, told the BBC Scotland news website: "It was simply a joint conclusion that an agreement on the comprehensive management of mackerel fisheries next year could not be reached."
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The meeting, in Copenhagen, is between officials from the EU, Norway and the Faroes.
Iceland and the Faroes sparked outrage earlier this year by unilaterally setting mackerel quotas in their own waters.
However talks have so far failed to settle the dispute.
Iceland last week announced that its mackerel quota for next year would be the same as this year.
Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association, said he was hopeful agreement could be reached.
He said: "The Faroese are one of our nearest neighbours and have been a long-standing partner in mackerel management for over 20 years.
"We are encouraged that they are still willing to talk and hopefully this will pave the way for an agreement with other coastal states over the next couple of days.
"However, whilst reaching a deal is important, it must not be done so at any cost and it needs to ensure that Scotland's traditional mackerel catching rights are not compromised."
'Joint conclusion' Mr Gatt added: "The mackerel stock in the north east Atlantic is an incredibly precious resource that requires careful and integrated management to ensure future sustainability."
Iceland last week denied it had walked away from talks.
The country's key negotiator on mackerel fisheries, Tomas Heidar, told the BBC Scotland news website: "It was simply a joint conclusion that an agreement on the comprehensive management of mackerel fisheries next year could not be reached."
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