MCS: Don’t source North Atlantic mackerel
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has issued the 2025 spring update to its Good Fish Guide, which has seen Northeast Atlantic mackerel caught by midwater trawl move from a 3 to a 4 rating, and the recommendation that businesses do not source it.
MCS notes that mackerel caught in this way in the Northeast Atlantic make up most of what supermarkets and restaurants sell.
It uses a 1 to 5 rating system, where 1 and 2 are considered “best choices”, 3 can be eaten but not too often, and 4 and 5 are not recommended. Also in the latest ratings, mackerel caught in the Northeast Atlantic by hook and line, moves from a 2 to a 3 – moving from green to amber.
The environmental charity explained that while some management measures are in place for Northeast Atlantic mackerel, enforcement remains insufficient, adding that countries like Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and the UK all fish this stock but there is no unified management plan to prevent overfishing across the entire fishery.
“It’s deeply concerning to see a source of seafood that was once a sustainable choice in such decline. Mackerel is under immense pressure from fishing activities across multiple nations, and the stock will soon be no longer able to sustain itself,” Good Fish Guide Manager Alice Moore said.
MCS noted that catch limits (total allowable catches or TACs) set by all parties have consistently exceeded scientifically recommended levels by between 5% and 80% since 2009. In recent years (2020 – 2024) TACs were, on average, 39% higher than scientific advice. Although actual catches have typically fallen below these TACs, they still exceeded recommended levels by an average of 23% (188,410 tonnes).
While there is agreement between countries that catches should match scientific advice, there is no agreement on how to share quotas between the countries, MCS said, insisting that all parties must work together to develop an appropriate strategy that leads to a recovery of this stock.
“As a more sustainable alternative to mackerel, we’d recommend herring from the North Sea and eastern English Channel, or sardines from Cornwall certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).”
Other notable movements on the Good Fish Guide see monkfish caught in the North Sea move from amber to green and blue marlin move off the red list, from a 5 to 4, due to a slight improvement in fishing pressure.
Farmed ratings reviewed remained the same, with certified responsibly produced pangasius and tilapia remaining green rated, and farmed bluefin tuna remaining red rated.
A proportion of ratings on the Good Fish Guide are updated twice a year, depending on the latest scientific advice. The next update is due to be in October.
