Q&A: Mackerel wars explained

An often bitter wrangle over mackerel quotas between Scotland, the European Union, Iceland and the Faroes has been capturing headlines for several months, and now the EU is deciding on what steps to take.

Here are answers to some of the main questions surrounding the issue.

When did the mackerel wrangle begin?

Why the high level of concern?

What justification was offered for the increased quotas?

What are the qualities of mackerel?

What direct action has been taken over the quotas?

What was the result?

What happened next politically?

What were ecologists saying?

Did talks work?

What happened next?

What has the EU now done?