Russia has raised its North-East Atlantic mackerel quota again, deepening a stock crisis that has now triggered new fishing curbs from Europe and its allies.

The European Commission says the mackerel stock in the North-East Atlantic is now in a critical conservation state after years of overfishing.

It points in particular to Russia. For 2026, Russia has unilaterally raised its quota to 22.5 per cent of the Total Allowable Catch. That equals 67,548 tonnes.

The Commission says this is almost five times Russia’s share in 2004. The move has sharpened pressure on one of the region’s most valuable shared fish stocks.

It has also pushed other North-East Atlantic fishing powers to act without Russia.

NEAFC members move against Russian catches

NEAFC members have adopted new measures to curb what the Commission calls unsustainable Russian mackerel fishing. The decision was based on an EU proposal. Russia opposed it.

The measures were backed by the EU, the United Kingdom, Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, Norway, and Iceland.

Under the agreement, Russian mackerel catches in international waters will be limited to 1,495 tonnes.

NEAFC members will also be banned from assisting Russian vessels in fishing above that level. That means no transhipment from such vessels.

It also means no refuelling services for Russian fishing vessels that exceed the limit.

The EU, the UK and Iceland will go further. They will apply the restrictions in their own waters, too. Russian vessels carrying mackerel in excess of the agreed limit will also be banned from entering their ports.

EU says measures are not enough

The measures are expected to enter into force on 28 August 2026, despite Russia’s objection.

The European Commission says it is preparing to put the measures into EU law. But Brussels also says the action is not enough to stop unsustainable practices in the North-East Atlantic.

The EU is calling on like-minded NEAFC partners to apply the mackerel measures in their own waters. It also wants further action against Russian fishing.

The Commission says more than 100 Russian transhipments take place each year in the NEAFC area without proper monitoring.

It now wants a general ban on transhipments at sea in the NEAFC area.

The EU says a full stock-sharing deal and coordinated management among coastal states are needed to help the mackerel stock recover.

NEAFC manages fisheries in the North-East Atlantic. Its contracting parties are the EU, Denmark in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the UK.