And so the herring wars begin.

After months of threats against the Faroe Islands, the EU has finally put its money where its mouth is and taken action against the islands, which it accuses of overfishing.

It will introduce a ban on imports of herring and mackerel caught by Faroese vessels from the Atlanto-Scandian stock (jointly fished by the Faroes, the EU, Russia, Norway and Iceland) on Wednesday 28 August.

UK port authorities have been alerted, as a diplomatic storm rages overhead.

The Faroe Islands claims the ban is inconsistent with WTO law and has already taken legal steps in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. “We are almost ready to take steps to raise a complaint with the Dispute Settlement Body within the WTO,” Jacob Vestergaard, minister of fisheries of the Faroe Islands, told The Grocer today.

It’s arguable as to whether the EU’s motivation is financial gain – in not wanting the Faroes to have a bigger share of the common stock – or whether it’s genuinely a champion of the world’s natural resources.

The truth? Probably a bit of both.

Hard lessons have been learnt as a result of the EU’s own broken Common Fisheries Policy and the bloc realises that protecting natural fisheries resources is vital to the future financial sustainability of the EU fishing industry.

And credit too, to the UK, which has been a leading supporter of the EU in its fight with the Faroes.

But the UK’s enthusiasm in championing the cause needs be read in context.

The Grocer can reveal that only 231 tonnes of mackerel and 11 tonnes of herring were imported into the UK from the Faroes last year, worth £234,505 and £8,609 respectively. In terms of levy, a meagre £625 was added to Seafish’s coffers. It’s hardly the cod wars of the last century.

Even so, Defra and Seafish are taking the moral high ground:

“Whilst it is regrettable that the situation has got to this stage, the decision is necessary as the irresponsible action of the Faroe Islands puts the future sustainability of important fish stocks in grave danger,” says fisheries minister Richard Benyon.

“Seafish believes that fisheries management must be based on sound scientific advice and underpinned by compliance with that advice. Everyone involved has a part to play and responsible practice by fishermen is fundamental to the sustainability of all fisheries,” adds Seafish technical director Tom Pickerell.

Whether all the big talk is a red herring remains to be seen, but for now at least, shoppers can rest assured that they won’t run short of kippers.

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