The Scottish and UK mackerel industry has welcomed an increase in the size of the north-east Atlantic mackerel stock following the recent scientific assessment by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which provides a sound platform for further growth aided by pragmatic fishery management initiatives.
ICES has advised today (30 September) that the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of north-east Atlantic mackerel for 2027 should be 352,938 tonnes – a 102% increase on the 2026 advice.
According to ICES, the current Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) of mackerel is 3.2 million tonnes. This is above the biological limit reference point, known as Blim, below which the stock’s capacity to reproduce and recover is considered to be reduced. ICES is predicting the SSB will increase to 3.34 million tonnes in 2028, aided by a good recruitment of young fish into the stock.
Ian Gatt, chair of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group (SPSG), which represents mackerel catchers and processors, said: “We welcome this news, although there is still a way to go to ensure the mackerel stock builds back to the biomass level associated with achieving Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)*. This includes the need to reach a quota shares agreement with all coastal states involved in the fishery.
“Significant progress was made at the end of last year when the UK, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway agreed an enhanced sharing arrangement for mackerel, which included a significant package of measures intended to improve long-term stock management. It is important now for the two other main participants in the fishery, the EU and Greenland, also to come onboard and reach a fully comprehensive agreement that will bring everyone in the fishery into a sustainable quota sharing and management framework.”
He added: “We believe the current improving stock situation vindicates the decision-making process by coastal states participating in the fishery when they set the 2026 TAC, where socio-economic factors necessary to protect fishing communities and supply chains were also considered alongside the scientific advice.
“Looking to the future, several initiatives are in place, or are being planned, to enhance fisheries management. These include the recent creation of the North-east Atlantic Pelagic Group, following on from the King Charles' Oceans Sustainability Initiative. The group comprises fisheries representatives from EU, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the UK. This group will work with governments and other stakeholders to ensure better management of pelagic stocks like mackerel.
“Furthermore, following the UK Fisheries Act 2020, the Scottish Government is leading work on developing evidence-based long-term Fisheries Management Plans for pelagic fish, including mackerel, with a statutory deadline of 31 December 2026.
“ICES will provide advice on a management strategy evaluation at some point in the future, hopefully next year, following a service request from the coastal states.
“In another development spearheaded by the UK, 2027 will be the first full year where pelagic vessels operating in UK waters are legally required to have Remote Electronic Monitoring in operation, providing a clear point of differentiation that underlines the UK’s commitment to the sustainable management of mackerel.
“We hope the UK and European food retail sector acknowledges the progress that has been made so far in bringing mackerel onto the road of recovery and will continue to support our industry and fishing communities.”
