The EAPO-NPWG has urged the EU Commission to take action over the perceived threat to mackerel and other key pelagic fish stock
The European Association of Fish Producers Organisations (EAPO) and its Northern Pelagic Working Group (NPWG) have issued a position paper on the state of pelagic stocks and the upcoming fishing opportunities for 2025.
The paper highlights concerns about declining mackerel stocks and calls for urgent action from the EU to prevent overfishing and protect the long-term sustainability of the industry.
Mackerel Crisis: EU Action Needed
One of the most pressing issues raised is the alarming decline in mackerel stocks, with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advising a 22% reduction in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2025. The EAPO-NPWG supports this recommendation but emphasises that the root cause of the crisis lies in the excessive, unjustified unilateral quotas set by several Coastal States, excluding the EU. These actions have severely weakened the stock’s resilience.
The industry backs the European Commission’s recent legislative proposal to identify and sanction non-EU countries allowing unsustainable fishing practices. This includes measures such as trade sanctions against those countries overfishing key pelagic stocks, particularly mackerel.
Collaborative Management Needed
The position paper stresses the importance of reaching comprehensive sharing agreements among Coastal States, including Norway, the UK, and the Faroe Islands, for key pelagic stocks such as mackerel, blue whiting, and Atlanto-Scandian herring. The EAPO-NPWG calls for these agreements to be based on historical track records and genuine fishing interests, warning that overfishing is currently destabilising the market and putting EU fishers at a disadvantage.
Concerns Over Partial Agreements
The EAPO-NPWG expressed disappointment with the partial agreements reached between the UK, Norway, and the Faroe Islands, criticising these deals for rewarding excessive unilateral quotas and encouraging further overfishing. The EU industry remains the only Coastal State adhering to previous sharing arrangements, and the group calls for continued constructive dialogue between the EU, UK, and Norway.
Other Stocks: Blue Whiting, Herring, and Horse Mackerel
While mackerel takes centre stage, the position paper also addresses other key stocks:
- Blue Whiting: The industry supports ICES’s advice for a TAC of 1,447,054 tonnes, a 5.4% reduction from 2024. It calls for closer monitoring of bycatch, especially hake, from non-EU vessels operating in EU waters.
- Atlanto-Scandian Herring: A modest 3% increase in TAC is welcomed, but concerns over excessive catches remain.
- Western Horse Mackerel: After two years of zero-catch advice, ICES has recommended a significant increase, with a TAC of 75,545 tonnes, representing a 488% rise from the 2024 bycatch TAC. This development is seen as a vindication of the industry’s position that recruitment has improved.
Urgent Call for Data and Research
For North Sea horse mackerel, where zero-catch advice has been given, the EAPO-NPWG calls for a monitoring TAC to ensure essential data continues to flow for future stock assessments. The group stresses the importance of additional research to better understand stock distribution and recommends the continuation of genetic research into stock identification.
Looking Ahead
The EAPO-NPWG concludes by urging the EU to take firm action against overfishing and to ensure fair sharing agreements are reached in future Coastal States negotiations. With several stocks in decline, immediate steps are needed to protect the long-term sustainability of the pelagic fishing industry.