SHOPPERS at Waitrose will not be able to buy mackerel in the coming months, as the retailer stops sourcing the fish amid concerns about overfishing.
The retailer says it is the first UK supermarket to suspend sourcing of mackerel, which it gets from Scottish waters, with sourcing of fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel suspended by April 29 and tinned mackerel following once the current stock has sold.
The move comes in the wake of failures by governments to cut catches to levels recommended by scientists to ensure sustainable fishing and stop mackerel stocks collapsing.
Conservationists welcomed Waitrose’s move to take mackerel off its shelves, and urged other supermarkets to follow suit.
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Advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (Ices) recommended a 70% reduction in catches in 2026 for all mackerel stocks in the region and its adjacent waters, compared to 2025’s recommended levels.
But with the stock repeatedly fished above sustainable levels, the recommendation for 2026 was equivalent to a 77% reduction on the 755,143 tonnes the scientists estimated would be caught in 2025.
Overfishing has resulted in depleting mackerel stocks in the north-east Atlantic, with Ices saying the species, and the wider fishing industry, could face long-term risks unless countries stick to recommended catch limits.
What has Waitrose said about mackerel?
Waitrose said that the decision in December by four of the coastal states to cut catches of mackerel by 48% was a step forward, but did not meet Ices advice.
North-east Atlantic mackerel will no longer meet the supermarket’s responsible sourcing requirements in line with the Sustainable Seafood Coalition codes of conduct, the retailer said.
Jake Pickering, head of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries at Waitrose, said: “By suspending sourcing of mackerel at Waitrose, we are reinforcing our ethical and sustainable business commitments, acting to tackle overfishing and protect the long-term health of our oceans and this crucial fish.
“Our customers trust us to source responsibly, and we are closely monitoring the fishery.
“We look forward to bringing mackerel back to our shelves once it meets our high sourcing standards.”
As alternatives, Waitrose is launching a new range of fish products, including hot smoked herring, hot smoked peppered herring and hot smoked sweetcure seabass, all of which are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified.
The retailer said it would also introduce MSC-certified frozen sardines from May as a sustainable replacement for frozen mackerel, and plans to become the first retailer to sell 100% MSC tinned sardines.
Waitrose said it would maintain its relationship with its mackerel suppliers and its new supply of herring, seabass, sardines and trout will be sourced through current supplier partnerships.
But there is currently no predetermined time-frame as to when Waitrose will start sourcing mackerel again
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Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, said: “We believe sustainable food production must balance climate action, nature protection and responsible fish sourcing is fundamental to protecting our oceans.
“We will continue to work closely with suppliers and industry partners to support the recovery and responsible management of fish stocks.”
What do conservation charities say?
Charles Clover, co-founder of conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation, said mackerel – one of the largest remaining commercial fish stocks in the north-east Atlantic – had declined 75% in the last 10 years because fishing nations, including the UK, had overfished it.
“They have put too little effort into the task of reaching agreement on a sharing arrangement – and some countries have been awarding themselves more quota than is justified by science,” he said.
“This crisis has been ignored for too long.
“We hope that this action by Waitrose sends it to the top of the political agenda. We call on other retailers to follow Waitrose’s example.”
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He warned: “The plight of the mackerel is part of a wider failure to take scientific advice intended to keep stocks healthy and able to recover from fishing pressure.
“Last year, more than half of UK catch limits were set above sustainable levels.
“It’s why cod, whiting, herring, pollock and haddock have all collapsed in recent years in the Celtic Sea.”
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