UK supermarket chain Waitrose has suspended sourcing mackerel from North-East Atlantic stocks, citing the fishery’s failure to meet the chain’s responsible sourcing requirements in line with the Sustainable Seafood Coalition’s (SSC) codes of conduct. All Waitrose North East Atlantic mackerel has been sourced from Scottish waters.
As of 29th April, Waitrose will cease sourcing fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel. Canned mackerel will no longer be on the shelves once the current stock has been exhausted.
‘By suspending sourcing of mackerel at Waitrose we are reinforcing our ethical and sustainable business commitments, acting to tackle overfishing and protect the long-term health of our oceans and this crucial fish,’ said Waitrose’s head of agriculture, aquaculture & fisheries, speaking at the Waitrose Food System Transformed Conference.
‘Our customers trust us to source responsibly, and we are closely monitoring the fishery. We look forward to bringing mackerel back to our shelves once it meets our high sourcing standards.’
He commented that four of the coastal states in December 2025 agreed to reduce catches by 48%, and while this is a step forward, it does not meet ICES advice.
He stated that North-East Atlantic mackerel no longer meets Waitrose’s responsible sourcing requirements in line with the Sustainable Seafood Coalition’s (SSC) codes of conduct, although the chain aims to maintain its long-standing relationship with its mackerel suppliers and continue to support the UK’s thriving coastal communities with herring, sea bass, sardines and trout continuing to be sourced through current supplier partnerships.
Scottish mackerel fishermen and processors under the auspices of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group (SPSG) have expressed disappointment following the Waitrose announcement to stop stocking North-East Atlantic mackerel from the end of April.
SPSG chairman Ian Gatt said it is disappointing that Waitroseis unfairly penalising the UK, which has been at the forefront of trying to reach an agreement on quota shares between participating nations.
‘The UK has led the way in trying to get a workable sharing arrangement in place to secure sustainable fishing for north-east Atlantic mackerel and we are perplexed why we should be punished for these efforts,’ he said.
‘The UK, with support from mackerel fishermen and processors, is pressing hard to seek a solution, but the problem lies with other countries failing to show willingness to reach an agreement. The Scottish pelagic sector is committed to a sustainable future for mackerel catching in the north-east Atlantic and it does not make sense to penalise the UK for being at the forefront of trying to secure a comprehensive deal on mackerel quota shares.’
Waitrose states that at present, there is no predetermined time-frame as to when it will resume sourcing mackerel.
‘Responsible fishing is not a standalone issue for us – it sits within our wider Ethics and Sustainability commitments, including our net zero ambitions, zero deforestation goals, biodiversity protection and our work to set science based targets for nature,’ said Marija Rompani, director of ethics & sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership.’
‘We believe sustainable food production must balance climate action, nature protection and responsible fish sourcing is fundamental to protecting our oceans. We will continue to work closely with suppliers and industry partners to support the recovery and responsible management of fish stocks.’
