Waitrose to suspend mackerel sales due to overfishing concerns

Waitrose has announced it will halt the sale of all mackerel products amid growing concerns about the sustainability of fish stocks in the North East Atlantic. The supermarket intends to stop sourcing fresh, chilled, and frozen mackerel by 29 April, and will discontinue sales of tinned mackerel once current inventories are exhausted. This move follows advice from marine conservation groups urging significant reductions in mackerel catches to avoid the risk of stock collapse.

Scientific bodies such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) have highlighted that mackerel populations in recent years have suffered due to overfishing, which has been exacerbated by a lack of effective international quota agreements. This overfishing has led to breeding rates that are insufficient to replenish the volumes taken from the ocean. The UK, which sees more mackerel caught in its waters than any other species, landed over 230,000 tonnes of mackerel in 2024 alone.

Although a 48% reduction in mackerel catch quotas was agreed upon in December by the UK, Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland, Waitrose considers this cut inadequate. The retailer, which sources all its mackerel from Scottish waters, has declared that starting from May 2026, mackerel from the North East Atlantic will no longer align with their responsible sourcing standards. Jake Pickering, head of agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries at Waitrose, emphasized the decision as a measure to uphold the company’s sustainable and ethical commitments, saying: “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.”

In response to the suspension, Waitrose plans to introduce alternatives certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to replace their mackerel products. The company aims to send a clear message against unsustainable fishing practices while supporting the long-term viability of fish stocks. Conservation organizations have welcomed the decision. Kerry Lyne, manager of the Good Fish Guide at the Marine Conservation Society, commented, “To keep favourites like mackerel on the menu, we need support right across the supply chain with fishing kept within sustainable limits.” However, the reaction from the Scottish fishing industry has been critical, with Ian Gatt of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association suggesting that the announcement’s timing was poor, as negotiations on quota sharing were ongoing. Meanwhile, Charles Clover, co-founder of the Blue Marine Foundation, described overfishing as a long-ignored crisis and expressed hope that Waitrose’s stance would elevate the issue within political discussions

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