The lack of progress made at 44th Annual Meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) in reaching an agreement on Northeast Atlantic mackerel and blue whiting catch allocations again showed that decision-making in the region’s fisheries management has become deeply flawed and needs urgent review, insists European fishing industry body Europêche.
In a statement, Europêche said: “Instead of trying to improve management of pelagic stocks and engaging in good faith, parties cold-shouldered each other and appeared to enter into (geo)political games. Proceedings also showed the Russian Federation re-emerging as a pivotal player, openly supported by some of the other delegations.”
Rather than delivering on much-needed stability and sustainability for various stocks, including setting the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) for mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring, NEAFC parties (the EU, the UK, Norway, Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Russian Federation) became stuck in their respective trenches, reported the organisation. “This means still no TACs for mackerel and blue whiting, no tighter rules against transhipment and no certainty about submission of Russian catch data (which is crucial for the provision of robust scientific advice).”
Europêche continued: “The inability of NEAFC as a body to promote good cooperation and sound, unbiased decision-making contrasts heavily with recent performance of other Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), such as NAFO (North Atlantic) and SPRFMO (South Pacific) and IOTC (Indian Ocean). Sadly, it is also a continuation of failed and contentious bilateral, trilateral and multilateral consultations in the Northeast Atlantic, lacking cohesion. This situation calls for urgent evaluation and independent intervention.”
It also voiced the fishing industry’s concern that the EU became largely isolated at the meeting, adding that discussions frequently went against sensible and responsible approaches to management, and catered instead to Russian interests.
“There really is no good reason why this week did not bring about a blue whiting TAC, which was already pre-conceived at the October Coastal States consultations, or progress on a comprehensive mackerel management package including a TAC, a sharing arrangement and supporting measures such as limiting catches in international waters.”
The industry requires clarity on the TACs fast, for the sake of its fishing plans for a year in which each part of the fleet will struggle with huge quota cuts, it said.
With talks entering a decisive phase – at a critical moment for the mackerel stock – Europêche said the industry urges all coastal states to engage constructively and creatively. “Parties need to work on rebuilding relationships and to focus on the grand prize, which should be the same for everyone: a healthy mackerel stock that allows each party to capitalise on its fair economic interests and track records and that continues to contribute to food security in many places in the world.”
It further warned the previously-resilient mackerel stock has fallen to a critical level and that if the scientific advice is not followed in 2026, a zero-catch advice for 2027 could become reality.
Tim Heddema, Chair of the EAPO Northern Pelagic Working Group and Vice-President of Europêche, said: “Fisheries management in the Northeast Atlantic is at a crossroads. Do we keep fighting small battles – with sometimes huge consequences – on several different battlegrounds? Will parties stay entrenched in positions that only they feel are justified? Neither fish stocks nor fleets, certainly not the EU’s, have benefited from current practices, which have also been fraught with geopolitical tensions.
“It seems the time has come to take a fresh look at the entirety of our relations and interests and on how a management body like NEAFC can support our cooperation. As an industry, we are ready to play our part as always. In the meantime, all efforts should be undertaken to set a mackerel TAC for 2026 and reach agreement on a comprehensive management package for this key stock.”
