NAPA renews urgent call for management agreements amid mackerel decline

The North East Atlantic mackerel, a crucial fish species for many coastal communities, is facing an uncertain future. Recent research from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) shows alarming declines in the mackerel population, with catches consistently exceeding recommended limits. The North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) is sounding the alarm for comprehensive management agreements among fishing nations.

The mackerel stock has been on a downward trend since 2015, with catch levels exceeding scientific advice since 2007. Multiple Coastal States engage in mackerel fishing, and although there is a general consensus on the need to follow recommendations on catch limits, they have struggled to agree on how to allocate those limits among themselves. This impasse has led to individual countries setting their own quotas, resulting in average excess quotas of 40% above advised levels since 2010.

In 2024, the UK, Norway, and the Faroe Islands signed a catch-sharing agreement that commits to reducing their catches and adhering to specified percentages of the recommended limits. However, this agreement excludes other Coastal States: the EU, Iceland, and Greenland.

Rob Blyth-Skyrme, NAPA Project Lead, emphasised the importance of broader collaboration: “The trilateral agreement shows that progress can be made, and compromise and collaboration are possible. However, it is only a stepping stone toward a wider consensus. A long-term management agreement that sets catch shares for all Coastal States and adheres to scientific advice is urgently needed.”

The latest scientific advice warns that exceeding recommended quotas could exacerbate the decline of the mackerel stock, jeopardising the livelihoods of businesses and communities that depend on it. 

Blyth-Skyrme added, “If this iconic stock becomes overfished, it would damage the credibility of the process. Coastal States must seek consensus through compromise—the time for action is now.”

Critical annual negotiations regarding the quotas for three significant pelagic species – North East Atlantic mackerel, North East Atlantic blue whiting, and Atlanto-Scandian herring – are scheduled for later this month. In recent years, they have failed to reach sharing agreements, leading to excessive catches.

NAPA advocates for long-term, science-based management of these stocks, calling for equitable quota sharing, adherence to scientific catch limits, and effective dispute resolution processes to prevent deadlock in negotiations. The ultimate goal is to achieve lasting economic and environmental sustainability for the businesses and communities reliant on these fishery resources.

• Date: October 8, 2024