Latest Good Fish Guide ratings show mackerel in decline
We've updated our Good Fish Guide in line with the latest scientific advice, and mackerel ratings have dropped.
This spring’s update to the Good Fish Guide sees Northeast Atlantic mackerel caught by midwater trawl move from a 3 to a 4, recommending that businesses do not source it. Mackerel caught in this way in the Northeast Atlantic makes up most of what supermarkets and restaurants sell. Mackerel caught in the Northeast Atlantic by hook and line, moves from a 2 to a 3, moving from green to amber.
Although some management measures are in place for Northeast Atlantic mackerel, enforcement remains insufficient. Countries like Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the UK, all fish this stock but there is no unified management plan to prevent overfishing across the entire fishery.
It’s deeply concerning to see a source of seafood that was once a sustainable choice in such decline. Mackerel is under immense pressure from fishing activities across multiple nations, and the stock will soon be no longer able to sustain itself.
Alice Moore, Good Fish Guide Manager
Catch limits (Total Allowable Catches or TACs) set by all parties have consistently exceeded scientifically recommended levels by between 5% and 80% since 2009. In recent years (2020 - 2024) TACs were, on average, 39% higher than scientific advice. Although actual catches have typically fallen below these TACs, they still exceeded recommended levels by an average of 23% (188,410 tonnes).
While there is agreement between countries that catches should match scientific advice, there is no agreement on how to share quotas between the countries. All parties must work together to develop an appropriate strategy that leads to a recovery of this stock.
Credit: Gavin Saville
As a more sustainable alternative to mackerel, we'd recommend herring from the North Sea and eastern English Channel, or sardines from Cornwall certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Other notable movements on the Good Fish Guide see monkfish caught in the North Sea move from amber to green and blue marlin move off the red list, from a 5 to 4, due to a slight improvement in fishing pressure. Farmed ratings reviewed remained the same, with certified responsibly produced basa and tilapia remaining green rated, and farmed bluefin tuna remaining red rated.
A proportion of ratings on the Good Fish Guide are updated twice a year, depending on the latest scientific advice. Our next update is due to be in October.
