The EU’s pelagic fishing industry faces one of its hardest years yet. A new position paper warns of deep quota cuts for mackerel, blue whiting and North Sea herring in 2026.
The Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association (PFA) states that this combination of declining stocks, flawed science, and unilateral quotas imposed by other states could push certain parts of the sector to the breaking point.
Sharp quota cuts ahead
ICES has advised a 70% cut in mackerel quotas, down to 174,357 tonnes. Blue whiting faces a 41% cut, to 851,344 tonnes, although the industry wants that to be limited to 20%. North Sea herring managers are urged to adopt a long-term plan to avoid sudden swings in quotas.
The industry supports ICES advice for Atlanto-Scandian herring, which has increased by 33% to 533,914 tonnes. At the same time, western horse mackerel, greater silversmelt and boarfish are all advised down.
For North Sea horse mackerel, ICES has issued zero-catch advice, with the industry calling for a monitoring quota to maintain data collection.
Call for urgent deals
The PFA stresses that without proper sharing arrangements between the EU, Norway, Iceland, the Faroes and the UK, mackerel in particular could face chaos.
“No sharing arrangements, no fish – this is now close to reality,” the paper warns. It urges an emergency deal that includes limits on international water catches.
The PFA also calls on the EU to act against “excessive, unjustified unilateral quotas” set by others, to prevent the collapse of key fisheries. And while science must guide policy, the group asks EU leaders to weigh the social and economic costs for coastal communities.