UK-based food and drinks company Princes Group has confirmed it will halt sourcing mackerel from the depleted Northeast Atlantic fishery and transition its entire Princes-branded mackerel range to MSC-certified Chilean mackerel.
The move follows the warning from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) that Northeast Atlantic mackerel stocks have fallen so far that a 70% cut to catches will be required in 2026 if the species is to recover.
From October 2025, MSC-certified Chilean mackerel (Trachurus murphyi), also known as jack mackerel, will be available in Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores, with further UK and Dutch retailers to follow in 2026. The shift forms part of Princes’ wider commitment to expand its MSC-certified portfolio across multiple species.
David McDiarmid, Corporate Relations Director at Princes, said the decision was both a market and sustainability imperative:
“Consumers want reassurance that the fish they are eating has been sourced sustainably and MSC certification is the best way of doing this. With little tangible progress on quota reform in the North Atlantic and NGOs warning of stock collapse, we are now taking action,” he said.
Princes, a long-standing member of the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA), has repeatedly called on Coastal States to align quotas with scientific advice and agree a long-term management plan. Its decision to shift away from the fishery comes after years of failed negotiations.
The new Chilean mackerel range has been tested through product reviews and consumer panels, which endorsed the change. Alongside the sourcing switch, Princes will also upgrade its mackerel in olive oil to 100% extra virgin olive oil, with tomato and spicy tomato variants due to hit shelves later this year.
George Clark, Programme Director UK and Ireland at the MSC, welcomed the decision: “This announcement demonstrates Princes’ commitment to giving UK shoppers access to more MSC-labelled products. With Atlantic mackerel yet to regain certification, the move sends a clear market signal on the need for sustainable choices.”
The transition follows Princes’ broader roadmap on sustainable tuna sourcing, with the company also on track to meet its target of 100% MSC-certified tuna for UK brands by the end of 2025.
