The recommendation by ICES of a 352,938-tonne maximum TAC for North-East Atlantic mackerel in 2027 has been welcomed by the pelagic sector. This is more than double the recommendation for the current year.
‘We welcome this news, although there is still a way to go to ensure the mackerel stock builds back to the biomass level associated with achieving Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). This includes the need to reach a quota shares agreement with all coastal states involved in the fishery,’ commented Ian Gatt, chair of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group (SPSG).
ICES estimates the current Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) of mackerel at 3.2 million tonnes. This is above the biological limit reference point, below which the stock’s capacity to reproduce and recover is considered to be reduced. ICES is predicting the SSB will increase to 3.34 million tonnes in 2028, aided by a good recruitment of young fish into the stock.
ICES has also recommended that blue whiting catches should not exceed 1,064,191 tonnes, while the recommendation for Atlanto-Scandian herring is for catches not exceeding 588,004 tonnes. In both cases, ICES states that this is dependant on the long-term management strategy of the concerned coastal states being applied.
‘We hope the UK and European food retail sector acknowledges the progress that has been made so far in bringing mackerel onto the road of recovery and will continue to support our industry and fishing communities,’ Ian Gatt added.
In Ireland the KFO cautiously welcomed the news.
‘After several years of bad news, the advice comes as welcome news. The increases in scientific advice for our key stocks will bring a minor level of stability to the pelagic fleet and much needed increased quotas for 2027,’ CEO Dominic Rihan said, commenting that for mackerel, Ireland’s most valuable stock, the EU continues to pay the price for the longstanding overfishing – up to 40% – by other Coastal States.
‘We are still not out of the woods as far as mackerel is concerned. Firm action is urgently needed to curtail the irresponsible behaviour of other nations in setting unsustainable, unilateral quotas while facilitating Russian vessels to overfish. The threat to our industry remains so we cannot be complacent,’ KFO chairman Ciaran Doherty said.
Advocacy group NAPA is also cautious in welcoming the raised TACs for mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring, warning that that ‘these signals must not be misinterpreted as a licence to continue excessive fishing pressure and stress that the slight uptick in mackerel occurred despite a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in 2026 that permitted fishing at more than double the recommended scientific advice.’
‘The latest ICES advice for mackerel shows that the stock has now moved to just above the danger zone after last year’s shock of it falling to below safe levels. In response, the ICES catch advice is proposing a 352,938 tonnes fishery for 2027,‘ a NAPA representative stated.
‘This reflects a 102% increase. While improvements in stock recovery are welcome news, care is needed as the stock is still in a precarious position – only 4.5% above the limit where the risk of stock collapse increases. The ICES advice warns that there is 33% chance that it could fall below safe limits within the next twelve months, even if catch advice is followed.’
NAPA continues to urge all seven Coastal States – Norway, Iceland, Faroes, Greenland, the UK, the EU and the Russian Federation – to reach a comprehensive sharing agreement that ensures combined catches remain within scientifically advised limits.
‘Without an effective management regime, these stocks remain at risk of falling below critical biological thresholds,’ NAPA’s representative warned.
