UK mackerel supplies under threat as new scientific advice recommends 70% cut to catch in Northeast Atlantic
Erin Priddle, Director of Northern Europe at the Marine Stewardship Council, 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.”
Overview:
Scientific advice released today by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) recommends a 70% reduction in catch for mackerel to protect the stock.
The new advice shows that overfishing has left Northeast Atlantic mackerel at biologically unsafe levels.
UK shelves are typically stocked with Atlantic mackerel – however brands across the UK and Europe are starting to switch to more sustainable alternatives.
The Marine Stewardship Council is calling on governments to act and urgently agree quotas in line with scientific advice, following years of political deadlock and continued fishing above sustainable limits.
Cornwall's Changing Tides: The Mackerel Story Since the 1970s
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| The freezer trawler fNorse towing through the middle of the handline fleet in Mounts Bay. |
The 1970s marked a significant shift for fishing communities in the South West UK, particularly in Cornwall. Mackerel, a local staple and a reliable catch for the inshore fleet of handliners, became the target of more intensive, large-scale commercial operations.
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| Scottish and East Coast pelagic fleet anchored in Mounts Bay circa 1980 |
This era saw the arrival of the modern pelagic fleet, which included substantial, high-capacity vessels, often operating out of the East Coast and Scotland. These larger trawlers could handle considerable volumes of fish at sea, increasing the overall capacity to harvest the stock and changing the scale of the industry.
The 'Mackerel Box' and Northern Shift
To manage this growing scale and protect the local spawning grounds and smaller, inshore boats off the Cornish coast, the UK established the 'Mackerel Box'. This was a restricted area designed to limit the activity of the largest vessels during key times. While it offered some protection locally, the overall management of the stock across its range remained a complex issue.
In the years since, the distribution of mackerel has evolved, influenced by factors like changing sea temperatures and climate patterns. The large shoals of mackerel that traditionally migrated to the South West in significant numbers have been observed moving progressively northwards. This shift has naturally reduced the resource available to Cornish boats, concentrating much of the commercial fishing activity in waters around Scotland, the North Sea, and even further north.
Today, while mackerel fishing remains a part of the South West's maritime heritage, the industry looks very different. The traditional fishing grounds that supported Cornish harbours for generations are no longer the primary focus of the mackerel season, requiring local communities to adapt to changing marine conditions and resource availability.
