SNP Westminster Spokesperson on Fisheries and MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Seamus Logan is calling on Waitrose to immediately reverse its “shortsighted” decision to stop stocking North-East Atlantic mackerel.
The supermarket chain recently announced it would de-list the species by April 2026, citing sustainability concerns and a lack of international quota-sharing agreements.
However, the SNP has branded the move as a direct hit to the Scottish fishing industry, which has been at the forefront of global efforts to manage mackerel stocks responsibly.
Mr Logan has formally contacted Waitrose leadership to:
- Challenge the rationale of penalising the Scottish fleet which is actively reducing its catch in line with new international agreements.
- Highlighting the economic impact on Scottish processing hubs like Peterhead and Fraserburgh.
- Requesting a stay on the decision while further diplomatic efforts are made to bring other coastal states, such as the EU and Greenland, into a comprehensive sharing arrangement.
Commenting, Seamus Logan MP said:
“Waitrose’s decision is a hammer blow to our coastal communities and a deep insult to the Scottish pelagic sector. Our fishermen and processors are not the problem; they are the leaders in sustainable practice.
“Scotland have already made significant sacrifices, including a December 2025 four-party agreement that reduces fishing pressure by 9%.
“By punishing the very people who are playing by the rules and leading the way on scientific data collection, Waitrose is targeting the wrong people.
“This move doesn’t stop overfishing by other nations; it simply removes a healthy, locally-sourced superfood from the shelves and replaces it with uncertainty for hundreds of Scottish workers.
“I have therefore contacted Waitrose to demand an urgent change of policy. They must understand that sustainability is achieved through cooperation and support for responsible fleets, not through blunt boycotts that abandon the Scottish industry.
“The SNP remains committed to standing up for the Scottish fishing industry and ensuring that sustainability is not used as an erroneous excuse by others for undermining local livelihoods in North East Scotland.”
