MSC urges action on pelagic fish

Herring, blue whiting and mackerel in the north-east Atlantic have recently lost or had their MSC certifications suspended due to disputes over fishing quotas.

All three are key species in both human consumption and as fish feed. “Against a backdrop of increasing demand, it is vital to protect small pelagic fisheries for the future,” said Nicolas Guichoux, MSC’s chief programme officer.

Herring, blue whiting and mackerel have only had international agreements in place for four of the last 25 years, leading to a 31% over-catch in the past seven years.

In response, several MSC partners have shifted to sourcing from sustainable pelagic fisheries such as North Sea herring, Icelandic herring and Chilean jack mackerel, ensuring market supply while protecting ecosystems.

“Retailers and brands have a huge role to play in driving momentum towards greater availability of certified small pelagic fish in the supply chain,” added Guichoux.

The MSC’s 2025 Small Pelagics Yearbook reports that small pelagic fish are the second most engaged species in its certification programme, with over 3 million tonnes certified globally in 2024.

“This newly published yearbook demonstrates the role of certification in driving sustainable outcomes for this species group, whilst highlighting the risks to these highly dynamic fisheries when international agreements are not in place to protect from overfishing and mismanagement,” said Guichoux.