NAPA says Waitrose’s exit from Atlantic mackerel sourcing highlights urgent need for pelagic fisheries reform to safeguard markets.
The North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) has warned of mounting market consequences after UK retailer Waitrose confirmed it will stop sourcing North East Atlantic mackerel due to unresolved sustainability concerns.
The coalition said “the market is moving” and urged Coastal States to deliver long‑delayed reforms to protect the long‑term future of pelagic fisheries.
NAPA warns of escalating market fallout
Since 2020, NAPA has represented almost 60 global seafood businesses calling for credible, science‑aligned management of mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto‑Scandian herring. Its Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) were designed to drive research, advocacy and political engagement, alongside interim asks aimed at reducing fishing pressure. Despite some progress, the core issues around quota sharing remain unresolved, leaving catches above scientific advice.
Retailers respond as governance gaps persist
NAPA said Waitrose’s decision follows similar actions by Princes, Thai Union, Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Lidl Netherlands, dispelling earlier criticisms that the market would not act. It described it as a “disappointing” but foreseeable development given that some of the world’s most data‑rich fisheries, operating under mature governance regimes, are now losing access to UK and EU supply chains due to persistent management failures.
Economic and social consequences deepen
The group warned that supply‑chain businesses, coastal communities and fishermen are already facing profound impacts. Once products lose their place on retail shelves, confidence erodes quickly, with global repercussions. With FIPs ending in 2026 and the mackerel stock now below safe biological limits, NAPA said the lack of a resolution is “indefensible”.
Call for action ahead of March negotiations
NAPA Executive Chair Aoife Martin said retailers will continue looking elsewhere unless Coastal States deliver science‑based, long‑term management: “These are the direct consequences of the lack of action by Coastal States.”
The next round of mackerel negotiations takes place in Reykjavik in early March, where NAPA is urging all parties to agree a comprehensive quota‑sharing arrangement. Anything less, it said, would prolong instability, heighten economic pressures and further damage confidence in the future of these fisheries.
Coalition remains committed despite difficult decisions
Although more sourcing shifts are expected, NAPA said it remains committed to securing a resolution for these fisheries and for the businesses, communities and livelihoods that depend on them.
