Think twice before ordering mackerel as it's becoming a rarer treat

2023-04-11

Think twice before ordering mackerel as it’s becoming a rarer treat, warns marine charity

Good Fish Guide has warned it is now being overfished in the north-east Atlantic
It is now recommended to seek alternatives where possible such as herring

Mackerel has long been seen as the most sustainable fish on the menu – being in plentiful supply.

But the Good Fish Guide is warning that it is now being overfished in the north-east Atlantic, which accounts for nearly all mackerel sold in the UK.

The fish has been downgraded by the Marine Conservation Society from green to amber, meaning we should think twice about ordering it. The MCS said it recommends seeking alternatives where possible, such as North Sea herring, Bay of Biscay anchovies and Cornish sardines.

It added that mackerel are being overfished due to a lack of cooperation on quotas between countries including Norway, Iceland, the UK and EU states.

Charlotte Coombes, Good Fish Guide manager, said: ‘The north-east Atlantic mackerel population has been declining since 2015, which is concerning. Fishing communities and wildlife depend on this species, but continued overfishing is putting both at risk.’

The Good Fish Guide is warning that mackerel is now being overfished in the north-east Atlantic

The fish has been downgraded by the Marine Conservation Society from green to amber, meaning we should think twice about ordering it

However, Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fisherman’s Association, disputed the claim that mackerel are being overfished.

He said: ‘It’s completely untrue to say mackerel stock is unsustainable at this moment in time. The mackerel stock is close to 4million tonnes, scientists say we should be concerned when it reaches 2million tonnes’.

The Marine Conservation Society reviewed 186 ratings on the Good Fish Guide this spring.

Amongst those ratings that did not change were European eel and Celtic cod, which stay on the red-rated, ‘Fish to Avoid’ list.

Jack Clarke, Sustainable Seafood Advocate at the Marine Conservation Society said, ‘Eel is still appearing on menus across the country, despite being more endangered than the Bengal tiger.

‘Populations have declined by as much as 95% in the past decade and recent scientific advice couldn’t be clearer- it’s time to stop eating eel.

‘It’s the most trafficked animal on the planet, with an illegal eel trade estimated to be worth £2.5 billion every year.’

All cod caught in UK waters, including Celtic Cod caught in the Irish Sea is red-rated, according to the guide. But most cod sold in the UK is Icelandic cod, which gets the green rating, according to the MCS.

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