At the time this report on the impending 'mackerel war', Iceland were looking to join the EU. Today, despite polls in Iceland showin that over 50% of Icelanders do not want to join the process continues - with fishing and access to fish like mackerel potentially jeopardising entry. This Channel 4 news clip highlights the one remaining fishery open to many of the big pelagic boats from Peterhead and Fraeserburgh - whom some, along with boats from the Shetlands, have been making the news recently for other reasons.
The talks continue to this day and are of much interest to mackerel fishermen in the South West as changes to quotas could, potentially, have a negative impact if previous intentions are carried out. After nearly three years of talk there is increasing frustration that the talks have so far failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion.