The mackerel population is steadily decreasing due to overfishing, and environmental groups in the United Kingdom are urging the government to work with other countries to implement protective measures.
Overfishing by Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the United Kingdom was 39% above sustainable limits between 2020 and 2024, while in the Northeast Atlantic, it exceeded the limit by an average of 23%.
Experts now recommend that businesses avoid selling mackerel and that consumers opt for other fish, which are more sustainable and still abundant.
Mussels are considered a sustainable choice for both consumers and businesses, as well as herring and dab from the North Sea.
They also recommend that consumers shop at local fishmongers rather than supermarkets, asking what is fresh, locally caught, and seasonal, as well as discussing more affordable and sustainable alternatives for their purchases.
Alice Moore, head of the “Good Fish Guide” for the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), says: “It is deeply concerning to see a seafood source that was once a sustainable option in such decline. Mackerel is under immense pressure from fishing activities in many countries, and the stock will soon no longer be able to sustain itself.”
