Supermarkets warn Europe's fishing industry that mackerel stocks are at risk
A coalition including Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury's says mackerel faces a one-in-three chance of falling below safe levels within a year, even under new scientific advice.
A coalition of 58 major seafood buyers, including Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Cargill, is warning northeast Atlantic fishing nations to stop overfishing mackerel, saying there is a 33% chance the stock will fall below safe limits within a year even if catches follow new scientific advice.
"Care is needed as the stock is still in a precarious position," said Aoife Martin, executive chair of the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group, the coalition behind the warning.
Mackerel stocks have fallen by more than 10 million metric tons since 2014. From 2020 to 2024, the catch limits countries set were 39% higher than scientists recommended. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, which advises governments on fish stocks, has recommended a 2027 limit that amounts to an 11% cut to the actual catch. Mackerel is the United Kingdom's most heavily caught species.
The Marine Stewardship Council suspended its sustainability certification for northeast Atlantic mackerel in March 2019. Some retailers have already acted: Earlier this year, Waitrose said it would pull mackerel from its British shelves, and Lidl switched to Chilean jack mackerel.
Six coastal states are set to meet on mackerel in two weeks, with a full summit that includes Russia planned for November.
This brief is based on reporting by Johnny Sturgeon, published Oct. 6, 2026, in Inside Climate News. Read the original: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06102026/europe-retailers-warn-industry-of-overfishing/
This article was produced with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by an editor before publication.
