EU fishing industry demands urgent 2026 mackerel sharing deal as overfishing by other fleets threatens stock sustainability
Critical Need for Mackerel Sharing Arrangement, EU Mackerel Still a Responsible Choice
On the eve of the next round of Coastal States consultations on mackerel, the EU fishing industry has once again urged decision-makers to reach a comprehensive sharing arrangement for this vital stock.
If this fails, the sector says fishermen would support an interim emergency arrangement for 2026. In the meantime, the industry reminds consumers and retailers that EU-caught mackerel remains responsibly sourced.
Coastal States Talks
The Mackerel Coastal States — comprising the EU, UK, Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland — will reconvene on 16–17 October to negotiate the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2026 and seek agreement on a long-term sharing arrangement.
As outlined in its recent position paper on fishing opportunities, the EU industry sees no alternative but to follow the scientific advice for 2026, which sets a total catch of 174,357 tonnes — a 70% reduction. The industry says this is necessary for the health of the stock and the future of the fleet.
However, EU fishermen continue to “pay the price” for what they describe as persistent overfishing — by as much as 40% — by other Coastal States. Industry representatives warn that unless this behaviour stops, Europe’s most valuable pelagic fishery could collapse.
Call for a Fair and Sustainable Agreement
The EU pelagic industry is calling on all Coastal States to commit to a comprehensive sharing arrangement based on genuine, sustainable historic track records. Current overfishing, they argue, should not be rewarded by granting inflated future quotas to those responsible.
An emergency arrangement for 2026, they suggest, could be based on the allocation key from the previous sharing deal. Both interim and permanent agreements should include clear limits on catches in international waters and require all such catches to be counted against national quotas.
Upholding Science-Based Limits
ICES advice for 2026 deems it scientifically responsible to fish 174,357 tonnes of mackerel, compared to 576,958 tonnes in 2025. The EU remains the only party currently adhering to this limit.
Against this backdrop, the industry expressed anger at calls from some environmental NGOs urging European retailers and consumers to boycott mackerel — a move already adopted by several retailers in EU Member States.
Industry Reaction
Tim Heddema, spokesperson for the EU pelagic fishing industry, said these actions were misguided and counterproductive.
“These actions by NGOs and retailers are extremely disappointing and uncalled for and don’t do justice to the scientific advice,” he said. “The impact will be felt by precisely those fishers who are least to blame for the current stock decline, whereas these calls for a boycott are absent in Coastal States responsible for overfishing. Those Parties will not suddenly change their attitude if Anne from Amsterdam can no longer find mackerel in her local supermarket. The solution to the problem is an agreement between Coastal States — and that is what everyone’s focus must be on. In the meantime, EU mackerel remains a responsible choice for consumers.”
Looking Ahead
The EU pelagic industry insists that the solution lies in collective action and fairness among Coastal States, warning that further delays in reaching a credible agreement could have irreversible consequences for stock recovery and the wider European pelagic sector.
