French industry warns mackerel crisis threatens jobs as quota cuts bite, urging strong political action and fair management among coastal states
France’s North Atlantic mackerel fishery is facing an unprecedented crisis as drastic quota cuts threaten businesses, employment and the future of coastal communities.
The French sector says the situation has become critical, with the national quota reduced five‑fold between 2024 and 2026. More than 1,300 vessels from Boulogne‑sur‑Mer to Saint‑Jean‑de‑Luz rely in part on this fishery, leaving coastal regions exposed to sudden economic shock.
Industry representatives say the emergency has been triggered not by the behaviour of French fleets but by the failure of several coastal states to agree on sustainable management of the shared stock.
Dispute Over Coastal States’ Unilateral Quotas
According to the sector, the current crisis stems directly from the inability of Iceland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and the United Kingdom to agree on a fair and sustainable management framework with the European Union. While France and the EU apply all sustainability principles under the Common Fisheries Policy, the other coastal states have awarded themselves unilateral and excessive catch volumes.
Industry leaders say recent decisions taken by these states further undermine a stock already under heavy pressure. They warn that France is now bearing a disproportionate share of the conservation burden, while competing fleets face far looser restrictions.
Sector Mobilises to Share the Burden Across Fleets
In response, the French National Fisheries Committee and producer organisations have coordinated a collective strategy under existing quota management rules. A dedicated working group within the CNPMEM has created a 400‑tonne professional allocation representing 20 percent of the national quota. This measure, managed entirely by the sector, aims to soften the impact on the fleets most dependent on mackerel.
However, the sector admits the professional mechanism can only cushion part of the economic blow. It insists that state support will be essential for the most vulnerable fishing companies, particularly those with no viable alternative target species.
Call for a Fair International Agreement
The industry is calling for a renewed diplomatic effort to secure a comprehensive and binding agreement among all coastal states. It says only a stable, equitable and sustainable management framework can protect the long‑term future of the North Atlantic mackerel fishery. Without strong political engagement, France warns it will continue to shoulder conservation responsibilities alone, at the expense of businesses, jobs and coastal territories.
French Leaders Demand Strong Diplomatic Response
Olivier Le Nezet, president of the National Committee for Maritime Fisheries and Marine Farming, said French fishermen are operating under increasingly difficult constraints. He warned that the mackerel crisis is weakening the entire sector and requires a strong political response to protect companies, employment and coastal communities.
Bruno Margollé, president of the federation representing small‑scale producer organisations, said defending French mackerel means protecting local economies. He noted that the sharp quota reduction is directly harming coastal regions and threatens the survival of many local activities.
