Global seafood coalition cautions mackerel collapse could reshape industry

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The North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) has expressed deep concern after newly-released scientific research shows that the Northeast Atlantic mackerel stock has reached its lowest level for over 20 years. At the same time, Atlanto-Scandian herring and Northeast Atlantic blue whiting have also seen substantial stock declines.

NAPA

NAPA is calling for the long-term, science-based management of Northeast Atlantic pelagic stocks

NAPA – a coalition of more than 50 retailers, suppliers and foodservice companies – insists these declines follow “entrenched periods” of unilateral quota setting by Coastal States for all three species, and said the situation places “beyond doubt” the role and importance of collaborative, international fisheries management in securing a sustainable future for the species.

With the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is advising that the mackerel stock is now at risk of long-term decline, and recommending a dramatic 77% cut to catches next year, NAPA said the findings were “shocking, but not surprising,” given that annual catches have exceeded safe limits every year bar one since 1998.

In a statement, Aoife Martin, NAPA’s independent chair, noted that in five years, excess catches have totalled more than 1 million tonnes above scientific advice, saying “it was inevitable there would be stark consequences – not just for the species, but for all who depend on it for their livelihoods”.

Mackerel is one of Europe’s most valuable fish stocks, supporting fishing fleets across the UK, Norway, Iceland, the EU and beyond, while also supplying global export markets. But the latest science points to deep structural problems, with NAPA warning that poor management of mackerel, herring and blue whiting threatens the health of the wider North Atlantic ecosystem.

NAPA is pressing for urgent quota-sharing agreements between Coastal States to bring catches back within sustainable limits. The group’s Fishery Improvement Project (FIP), launched in 2020, is seen as a last chance to broker international compromise. If progress is not made before the FIP ends in April 2026, the coalition has warned its members may be forced to reconsider sourcing from the region altogether.

Martin added: “There is willingness among Coastal States to find solutions, but not yet a single proposal that all can endorse. The severity of the stock collapse should serve as a jolt to drive the next round of negotiations towards meaningful compromise. Without this, many of our partners will face difficult decisions about future sourcing.”

NAPA has proposed interim steps while talks continue, including restricting high seas catches, limiting quota transfers between years, and prioritising human consumption of mackerel.

The group argues that only a science-led international agreement can restore mackerel stocks, safeguard seafood businesses, and secure the future of communities that depend on the species.