Advice issued by ICES is for some drastic cuts in next year’s fisheries for blue whiting (down 41%), boarfish (down 22%) and for mackerel – with a massive 70% TAC reduction advised.
In its asessment that the 2026 mackerel TAC should not exceed 174,357 tonnes, ICES states that in delivering advice that’s 70% down compared to its figure advised for the current year, this is due to a decline in the stock size and a need to reduce fishing pressure to achieve a 50% probability of spawning-stock biomass (SSB) being above Blim in 2027.
‘The sum of the unilateral quotas for mackerel has resulted in catches that have exceeded the scientific advice by, on average, 39% since 2010. The stock is estimated to be below both MSY Btrigger and Blim in 2025,’ ICES states in its advice for 2026.
‘The advice is based on the MSY approach that should lead to a short-term recovery above Blim and a medium-term recovery above MSY Btrigger. Failing to adhere to the advised catches as derived from the application of the MSY approach may lead to a lower chance of the stock recovering to above Blim in the short term and to above MSY Btrigger in the longer term.’
The ICES advice for blue whiting is that catches in 2026 should not exceed 851,334 tonnes. That’s a 41% reduction compared to last year’s advised figure.
‘…when the long-term management strategy agreed by Norway, the European Union, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and UK is applied, catches in 2026 should be no more than 851 344 tonnes,’ ICES states, and notes that ‘there have been consistent deviations from the long-term management strategy since 2018 as evident from the sum of unilateral quotas.’
Blue whiting landings in 2024 totalled 1,789,724 tonnes and preliminary figures indicate landings of 1,751,013 for this year.
For boarfish the advised reduction is a 22% cut compared to advice for the current year, from the 2025 advice of 38,295 tonnes to a fishery not exceeding 29,720 tonnes in 2026.
