Fresh mackerel. (Photo: Tamorlan)

Conservation group downgrades mackerel rating

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is downgrading its rating of this once-sustainably caught oily fish as a result of the mackerel dispute, which has countries fighting about quotas in the northeast Atlantic. The fish has been removed from the organisation’s latest Fish to Eat list and the MCS now recommends that consumers eat mackerel only occasionally.

This northward-movign mackerel stock has already lost its Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification over the quarrel that involves the UK, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

“The stock has moved into Icelandic and Faroese waters, probably following their prey of small fish, crustaceans and squid. As a result both countries have begun to fish more mackerel than was previously agreed,” explained MCS Fisheries Officer Bernadette Clarke. 

Now, the total catch far surpasses scientific recommended and previously agreed-upon quotas, and negotiations to introduce new catch allowances have so far failed, she told.

Instead of mackerel, people should switch to herring and sardine, which are on the charity’s Fish to Eat List. Otherwise, consumers should be careful to obtain mackerel “from as sustainable a source as possible” – it should be fish caught locally using traditional methods --  including handlines, ringnets and drift nets -- or from suppliers who are signatories to the principles of the Mackerel Industry Northern Sustainability Alliance, Clarke continued.

Meanwhile, representatives of Scottish fishers contend that the MCS' downgrading of mackerel is premature, BBC reports.

"The stock is actually still well above the precautionary level, even if Iceland and the Faroes continue to do this," said Bertie Armstrong of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF). "You can ignore the MCS advice this year."

The MCS Fish to Eat list has also purged gurnard, due to a lack of data on stock levels, scientific advice to reduce catches and concerns about fishery management.

“Gurnard, specifically red and grey are now classified by scientists as ‘data-limited stocks’ meaning there is little information available on stock levels and how much is being fished. Because gurnard have historically been taken as bycatch - accidentally caught when fishing for other species and are not targeted by commercial fishing interests - there are no catch restrictions or minimum landing sizes,” Clarke said. 

She noted that if the species is to become commercially targeted sustainably, the industry must understand its biology and watch how much of it is discarded.

On the bright side, MCS has added many herring stocks and coley, plus Dover sole from the English Channel and whiting from the Celtic Sea to the Fish to Eat list.

Related articles:

- Govt hires PR firm to help with mackerel dispute 
- Mackerel fisheries lose MSC accreditation status 

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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