The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has slams the Norwegian pelagic fleet for overfishing of vulnerable mackerel stocks
Killybegs Fishermen Call for Action as Norwegian Fleet Rakes in Record Mackerel Catches in UK Waters
The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has raised concerns over the sustainability of mackerel stocks, following a record week for Norwegian fishermen who hauled in over 53,000 tonnes of mackerel, with 90% of the catch taken from UK waters.
This comes at a time when mackerel stocks are showing signs of significant decline, prompting renewed calls for the European Union to take decisive action to protect both the fish and the livelihoods of European pelagic fishermen.
In a statement, KFO highlighted that Norway continues to justify its unilateral mackerel quotas through “zonal attachment”—the idea that fishing quotas should reflect the proportion of fish in a country’s waters. However, the Norwegian fleet has increasingly focused its effort in UK waters. According to data from Norges Sildesalgslag, 47,749 tonnes of mackerel were caught in the UK zone over the past seven days, with Norway reaping the benefits of the rich fishing grounds southeast of Shetland.
Gunnar Hågensen, Chair of Sjømat Norge, applauded the Norwegian fleet for their exceptional catch during what has been a record-breaking week. A total of 162 vessels participated in the haul, with purse seine nets accounting for the largest share of the catch. The fleet’s success pushed mackerel landings to over one billion Norwegian kroner in first-hand sales, a historic high.
The Facebook post from the KFO calling-out the Norwegian overfishing of mackerel
Despite the celebrations in Norway, the KFO and other European fishing bodies are sounding the alarm. “Norway is capitalising on mackerel stocks in UK waters at a time when these stocks are in serious decline,” the KFO said in a statement. “It’s time for the EU’s Maritime and Fisheries Directorate to step in and protect this critical resource, not just for Norway but for all pelagic fishermen across Europe.”
The KFO’s concerns are backed by the fact that Norwegian boats caught the vast majority of their mackerel quota in the UK zone, with local fisheries struggling to keep up. While Norwegian coastal fishing methods saw limited success last week, with only 450 tonnes caught, Norwegian vessels pivoted to UK waters to meet their targets. Meanwhile, Faroese boats operating in the Norwegian Sea have also been forced to look further afield due to poor returns.
With Norway already having landed 167,000 tonnes of its 2024 mackerel quota, European pelagic fishermen are growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of action from EU authorities. KFO stressed the need for immediate intervention to protect dwindling mackerel stocks before it’s too late.
“The mackerel fishery is of immense value not just to Norway, but to all nations with access to these waters,” the KFO stated. “If this overfishing continues unchecked, it will devastate the mackerel stock and the livelihoods of European fishermen who rely on it. We need fair, cooperative management of this resource.”
The KFO HQ in Killybegs
As Norway looks to continue its mackerel fishing efforts into the coming weeks, the KFO and other industry leaders are urging the EU to take a stand against the current exploitation of shared fish stocks, in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the mackerel population.