International Fish Canners Ltd/Nor Sea Foods Ltd have made the following sourcing statement:

“We source our mackerel from the North East Atlantic FAO Area 27, specifically UK waters. We are participating in the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) fishery improvement programme (FIP) which calls on the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) Coastal States to agree quotas in line with scientific advice, and implement a long-term science-based plan.

We are fully supportive of NAPA’s key advocacy asks:

1. Coastal States should limit fishing on the High Seas to no more than 10% of catch (based on NAPA analysis of Coastal State mackerel catches, 2023).
2. For the mackerel industry, focusing on direct human consumption means promoting a more sustainable, economically beneficial, and health-conscious approach to our marine resources.
3. Even if all Coastal States can’t commit to the terms of the tripartite agreement, NAPA urges them to commit to the 10% banking option.

Whilst we participate in NAPA, we will continue to source North East Atlantic mackerel for our own branded products only from Coastal States championing sustainability. For our own branded products, we have made a commitment to neither source from nations setting quota unilaterally nor from nations catching in international waters. For products packed under our customer’s brands, we will collaboratively engage with them and follow their guidance.”