The fallout from a partial mackerel deal agreed before Christmas is deepening, after the UK, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Norway set quotas that could push 2026 catches to about 120% of the scientific advice, according to Fishing News.
The agreement excludes the EU, Greenland, and Russia and has triggered fresh political and industry backlash.
The deal allows the four parties to fish above levels recommended by ICES, even though the mackerel stock is at its lowest level in 20 years. Several key players now warn that this could delay recovery and raise long-term risks.
EU signals pushback
The European Union has confirmed it will set its own quotas in line with ICES advice and its historic share of the stock. Fishermen within the bloc are calling for trade measures against other mackerel nations to force a return to earlier sharing agreements.
Iceland criticises four-way deal
Icelandic fishing leaders have attacked the agreement, saying it reduces their catch rates. This is despite the deal allowing Iceland to take 90% of its quota in Faroese and Norwegian waters.
Critics say this weakens Iceland’s argument that higher quotas are justified by mackerel moving north into its own waters, where fleets have struggled to find commercial volumes.
Buyers urge restraint
The North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA), which represents major buyers, has renewed calls for a complete sharing agreement that stays within scientific limits.
NAPA warned that setting catches above the advice adds risk to a stock already under pressure, but stopped short of threatening boycotts, as it had done before.
A NAPA-funded improvement programme for mackerel and herring ends in April, with little sign so far of a restoration of MSC status.