The UK mackerel industry has criticised a decision to downgrade Northeast Atlantic mackerel in the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Good Fish Guide, calling it misleading and not based on the latest science or management changes.
The Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group (SPSG), which represents fishers and processors, said the rating fails to reflect recent cuts in catch limits and new agreements between coastal states aimed at reducing fishing pressure.
Industry says rating ignores new agreements
SPSG chair Ian Gatt said the downgrade does not account for a recent deal between the UK, Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands.
The agreement commits countries to set quotas in line with scientific advice under a Maximum Sustainable Yield model. It is expected to increase spawning stock biomass by about 8.5%.
Gatt said this is close to the 11.4% increase projected under headline scientific advice and shows the stock can recover under current management.
Dispute over stock status and science
The industry also challenged MCS’s claims that the stock is in a “very overfished state”.
SPSG said stock declines since 2015 must be seen in the context of unusually strong recruitment between 2013 and 2015. It argued the fall reflects a return to normal levels rather than a collapse.
It added that several strong year classes remain in the stock and continue to support the fishery.
Calls for review instead of a downgrade
The group also rejected MCS concerns over weak enforcement, stating that control systems in the pelagic fleet are robust and include mandatory electronic reporting.
SPSG said the rating should have been placed “under review” until the next scientific update expected in September.
It added that ongoing talks aim to expand the current four-party deal to include the EU and Greenland.
The group said consumers should remain confident that mackerel remains a sustainable choice.