Mackerel Meltdown: Industrial Greed Pushes Stock to 20-Year Low

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has delivered today shocking advice: commercial catches of Northeast Atlantic mackerel must be cut by 77% in 2026 if the stock is to stand any chance of recovery.

Mackerel populations are now at their lowest level in more than 20 years. Once one of the UK’s most iconic and accessible fish, the humble mackerel is facing a crisis caused by decades of political inaction and industrial overfishing.

A Story of Mismanagement

• Since 2010, quotas for mackerel have, on average, been set 39% higher than the scientific advice.

• In total, over one million tonnes of mackerel have been taken in excess of what scientists recommended in recent years.

• This is the direct result of coastal states failing to agree on a sharing arrangement, leaving the door open to excessive quotas and free-for-all exploitation.

Why Anglers Should Care

For recreational sea anglers, mackerel is more than just a species – it’s a symbol of summer. From jigging feathers off a pier to introducing children to their first catch on the beach, mackerel fishing is one of life’s simplest and most joyful pleasures.

But while families with a rod and line make memories along the coast, industrial-scale pelagic fleets have been scooping up vast quantities of mackerel and undermining the sustainability of local coastal communities that depend on healthy seas.

If this trajectory continues, the David vs Goliath battle between coastal communities and industrial offshore fleets will only end one way.

“It is deeply troubling that a species so iconic and accessible as mackerel has been driven to its lowest level in more than 20 years by industrial greed and political inaction. While families may soon struggle to catch a few mackerel from the beach, industrial pelagic fleets continue to fish with impunity, ignoring the science and undermining the future of this vital population. Governments must act now to deliver a fair and sustainable management agreement, cut catches in line with the science, and put the long-term health of our seas ahead of short-term profit.”
– Hannah Rudd, Head of Marine, Angling Trust

What Must Happen Next

The Angling Trust is calling for:

• Coastal states to agree on a sustainable, science-based sharing arrangement for the Northeast Atlantic mackerel.

• Governments to stop ignoring ICES advice and cut commercial catches by 77% in 2026.

• Recognition of the importance of mackerel for recreational anglers and local communities, not just industrial fleets

• Stronger international accountability mechanisms to prevent chronic commercial overfishing of shared stocks.

A Fight for the Future

Mackerel should be one of the UK’s great success stories: abundant, accessible, and vital to the marine food web. Instead, it is now a case study in what happens when short-term politics trumps long-term sustainability.

For sea anglers, the thought that a family might no longer be able to go down to the beach, cast a line, and catch a few mackerel to take home is heartbreaking. That simple pleasure is being stolen by industrial greed.

The Angling Trust will continue to fight to make sure the voice of recreational sea anglers is heard loud and clear in this debate – and to ensure future generations can still enjoy the thrill of catching mackerel from our shores. You can join the fight by becoming a member of the Angling Trust today.