Four countries have agreed on a new deal on how much mackerel can be caught in 2026, setting a total catch well above scientific advice and excluding the European Union.

The agreement, signed by the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands in mid-December, has triggered intense criticism from EU institutions and fishing groups, who warn it risks further overfishing of an already stressed fish stock and creates an uneven market for fishers.

What the agreement says

Under the deal, the four countries set a total allowable catch of 299,010 tonnes of North-East Atlantic mackerel for 2026. A total allowable catch is the maximum amount of fish that can be taken in a year.

The agreement also sets out how fishing access and shares are divided among the four parties and is intended to run until 2028.

The level chosen is much higher than the advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. This main scientific body assesses fish stocks. Scientists recommended a catch of no more than 174,357 tonnes for 2026 to reduce pressure on the stock.

The European Union and Greenland were not part of the talks or the final deal, even though mackerel is a shared stock that migrates across many national waters.

Why the EU is concerned

The European Commission said it is “deeply concerned” about the agreement. It warned that the higher catch limit poses serious risks to the long-term health of the mackerel stock, which it says is already in an unsustainable state due to years of overfishing.

The Commission also noted that when catches from other countries, such as Russia, are included, total fishing pressure in 2026 could exceed 400,000 tonnes. That would be far above the level scientists consider safe and could cause lasting damage to the fish population and the jobs that depend on it.

The EU has set its own provisional catch limit in line with scientific advice and says the four-party deal undermines efforts to manage the stock responsibly.

It is now examining whether the arrangement complies with international law and with existing agreements with the UK.

Reaction from fishing groups

EU fishing organisations reacted sharply. They said the deal rewards countries that have set high quotas on their own in the past and leaves less room for EU fishers, who have followed lower, science-based limits.

They argue that this creates an unbalanced playing field and harms the EU fleet’s position in the market.

French fishing representatives went further, calling the situation a “mackerel scandal”. They warned that fish caught above scientific advice could still be sold on EU markets, putting fishers who follow the rules at a disadvantage.

They are asking the European Commission to consider strong measures, including trade restrictions, to protect the stock and fair competition.

Views also differ among the countries that are part of the agreement. In Iceland, industry groups said the deal sharply reduces Iceland’s share compared with previous years and locks in overfishing.

They criticised their government for accepting a total catch far above scientific advice and for agreeing to terms they say could move jobs and value out of Iceland.

By contrast, Norwegian industry bodies welcomed the establishment of a long-term agreement. They said the lower quota compared with last year provides greater predictability for fishers, while also noting that the absence of the EU and Greenland is a weakness.

What happens next

The European Commission says it will seek clarification from the four countries and continue to push for a broader agreement that includes all coastal states involved in the mackerel fishery.

It has urged all parties to reconsider the catch level and return to limits based on scientific advice to protect the stock for the future.

For now, the 2026 mackerel season is set to proceed under a divided system, with different catch limits and rules depending on where vessels are based, and with no complete agreement covering all countries that fish the stock.