PelAC warns EU pelagic management near collapse, citing science flaws, coastal state overfishing, climate pressures, & economic threats to fleets. HI – Norway
The Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) has warned that Europe’s pelagic fleets face “abyssal” cuts in 2026 fishing opportunities unless decisive action is taken to end unilateral quota setting by non-EU coastal states and to rebuild depleted North-East Atlantic stocks.
In a detailed submission to the European Commission, PelAC said the lack of binding long-term sharing arrangements with Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands continues to cause systemic overfishing of mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring. The group accused some states of “IUU-style behaviour” and urged the EU to use its trade leverage to enforce compliance through Regulation 1026/2012, warning that “virtue is worth little when others are plundering the stock”.
Socio-Economic Impact and Data Failures
PelAC said the 2026 catch recommendations would have “significant social and economic repercussions” for fleets and coastal communities dependent on pelagic species. It has called for a full socio-economic assessment of the impact of proposed reductions, including downstream effects on fish auctions, processors, and shipyards.
The council criticised the Commission’s reliance on outdated data in its analysis of fleet capacity and stock health, claiming it produces “misleading” conclusions. It said the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) must update its reporting schedule and data use, noting that its figures “do not reflect the current reality” for EU fleets.
Mackerel Crisis and Market Leverage
Mackerel is the most urgent concern, with PelAC warning that the spawning stock biomass has fallen below critical limits for the first time. ICES avoided a zero-catch recommendation only because it predicted a 50 per cent chance of recovery above Blim by 2027.
PelAC said years of overfishing by non-EU states have brought the stock to the brink and called for a binding rebuilding plan “integrating ecosystem and climate impacts” and ensuring no rewards for states that have set inflated quotas. The council added that EU processors and retailers should refuse to buy mackerel from overfished sources.
The group recommends setting the 2026 TAC for North-East Atlantic mackerel at 174,357 tonnes under the MSY approach and urged the Commission to lead a “comprehensive, binding sharing agreement” that restores sustainable management.
Stock-Specific Recommendations
For Atlanto-Scandian herring, PelAC condemned Norway and the Faroe Islands for excluding the EU from talks and recommended a 2026 TAC of 533,914 tonnes.
For blue whiting, it called for urgent benchmarking of ICES data following a survey disrupted by severe weather, with the LTMS to be revised on a precautionary basis.
For boarfish, PelAC questioned the reliability of recent survey data and sought a re-examination of raw results and possible in-year revision of advice. It supports the ICES recommendation of 29,720 tonnes for 2026.
Regarding horse mackerel, PelAC said critical data gaps and combined TACs covering multiple Trachurus species undermine effective control and risk overexploitation. It urged the Commission to fund dedicated surveys and harmonised genetic stock identification. It recommended TACs of 74,214 tonnes for western horse mackerel and 56,520 tonnes for southern horse mackerel.
For the North Sea horse mackerel, where ICES has advised zero catch for a second year, PelAC backed a scientific monitoring TAC to maintain data collection and category 1 assessment status.
Climate and Ecosystem Concerns
PelAC reiterated that climate change and warming seas are reducing productivity across pelagic ecosystems and called for measures at EU level to “rebuild stocks and address non-fisheries pressures”, including offshore renewable energy developments and gravel extraction on known spawning grounds.
Chairman Esben Sverdrup-Jensen said the council’s 2026 recommendations were aimed at securing “long-term sustainable fisheries” based on scientific evidence and fair international cooperation.
“Europe’s pelagic fleets cannot be punished for respecting the rules while others ignore them,” he said. “The Commission must use every tool it has to restore balance and defend the integrity of EU fisheries.”
