Years of political deadlock between nations and failure to follow scientific advice have pushed mackerel stocks to the brink threatening future availability to global seafood supply chains
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is calling on governments of the North East Atlantic to establish quota share agreements in line with scientific advice for important stocks of Atlantic mackerel, Atlanto-scandian herring, and blue whiting.
New advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) shows the sum of the unilateral quotas for mackerel has resulted in catches exceeding the scientific advice by, on average, 39% over the past 15 years , and the stock biomass is now below the critical threshold. Scientists have recommend a 77% cut in catches in 2026 and warn that failure to adhere to the advice may lead to a lower chance of stock recovery[1].
Urgent action from the key coastal states of UK, Norway, EU, Iceland, and Faroe Islands is now critical to break the political deadlock and the upcoming October annual negotiations will be an opportunity to secure important emergency management measures for mackerel, ensuring a plan for stock recovery.
Following years of overfishing and a lack of effective quota-agreements by governments, several brands and retailers across Europe have now started to switch to sustainably caught alternatives, risking the future availability of Atlantic mackerel to supply chains that rely on the health of this nutrient dense fish to service consumer demands for high omega rich proteins.
As well as a 77% reduction in the catch of Atlantic mackerel, ICES advises a 41% reduction in the catch of blue whiting. The situation with AS herring is more positive with ICES advising a 23% increase in catch which is linked to stronger recruitment in recent years, but stock is still being overexploited and approaching its critical threshold. Therefore, despite an increase in the advice of AS herring, a quota share in line with scientific advice is needed to ensure this internationally shared stock is effectively managed.
MSC analysis of this new data shows that in the last eight years alone, the total excess catch of mackerel, AS herring and blue whiting equates to more than 5.8 million tonnes of fish which, if the scientific advice had been followed, should have been left in the sea.
These stocks represent some of the largest fish populations in Europe and are critically important to the health of the marine ecosystem, local economies and global seafood supply chains. Yet they have been overexploited due to persistent failure by governments to allocate quota shares in line with science, which is a fundamental principle of good fisheries management.
These fisheries lost their MSC certification, a globally recognised marker of sustainability, over five years ago, and since this time government negotiators – representing some of the wealthiest nations in the world – have failed to agree an overall quota sharing agreement in line with science. This persistent failure is now having a visible impact on the stocks, especially mackerel which is now below sustainability thresholds risking not only stock health, but also the livelihoods and supply chains that rely on this species to service important markets worldwide.
The impact on seafood supply chains is already being felt with some brands and retailers in Europe switching to certified sources, such as MSC-certified Chilean Jack Mackerel. Demand is also increasing for certified herring alternatives, such as North Sea and Icelandic Spring Spawning stocks. It is therefore imperative that governments break the political deadlock and agree long-term management plans, including science-based quota share agreements, for these iconic stocks to safeguard them for this and future generations.
Erin Priddle, Regional Director of Northern Europe said: “Today’s advice is a stark warning: without urgent action, mackerel stocks are at very real risk of collapse. The science is clear, and now, after years of inaction, governments must put aside political deadlock and work together to agree quotas in line with scientific evidence for the long-term sustainability of this critically important species.
“The MSC has been calling for action for years, urging decision-makers to heed the science before it’s too late for this vital stock. Sustainable alternatives are available, with some brands already choosing to switch, but lasting change will only come if ministers act now to safeguard the future of this iconic species and the fisheries and communities that depend on it.”