ICES has presented its recommendations for 2025 for the main north Atlantic pelagic fisheries – and the advice for next year’s mackerel fishery is the lowest in ten years.
ICES recommends a 576,958-tonne quota for mackerel in 2025. This is a decrease of 22% compared to the advice for 2024, and is 40% lower than the estimated catch in 2024.
‘The spawning population is dangerously close to the precautionary level. In order to maintain a stock that is sustainable, fishing pressure must be reduced,’ said stock manager Leif Nøttestad at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research.
Back in 2014, the mackerel spawning stock was estimated at over 7 million tonnes. In 2024, the spawning stock is estimated at less than 2.8 million tonnes.
The Institute points out that fish mortality in mackerel has increased sharply in recent years and is now far above the precautionary level (FMSY ), at the same time that recruitment has been poor.
‘During this summer’s mackerel and ecosystem survey, we measured the lowest distribution and the lowest density of mackerel we have seen in the last 15 years,’ he said.
A lack of international agreements and fishing in excess of the recommended levels is a challenge for mackerel, Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting.
ICES recommends the catch of Atlanto-Scandian herring should not exceed 401,794 tonnes next year.
This is an increase of 3% compared to the recommendation for 2024, and 10% lower than the estimated 2024 catch. The stock is being strengthened by the emerging strong 2021 and 2022 year classes, which means the longer-term future for this stock looks brighter.
The recommended quota for blue whiting is 1,447,054 tonnes for 2025. This is 5% down compared to the 2024 recommended limit, and 23% lower than the estimated 2024 catch.
For western horse mackerel, a quota of 75,545 tonnes for 2025 is recommended. This follows two years with a recommended zero catch for this species.
