Fresh mackerel for sale in a UK supermarket showing the MSC eco-label. (Photo Credit: MSC)

Scottish-caught mackerel rated as 'fish to eat' by MCS

UNITED KINGDOM
Friday, May 17, 2013, 01:20 (GMT + 9)

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has upgraded the status of mackerel caught by Scottish vessels and now suggests it can be eaten without jeopardising the species, although only occasionally. Conversely, the MCS does not recommend eating mackerel caught by trawlers from Iceland and the Faroe Islands, which are deemed to be overfishing the species -- and which is the reason why the Scottish industry is demanding sanctions against those countries.

"We are pleased that the MCS has made this important differentiation between Scottish-caught mackerel compared with that from Iceland and the Faroes,” Ian Gatt, chief executive of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association (SPFA), said. "Scottish mackerel and herring fishermen are committed to sustainable catching as it is highlighted by the fact that all our herring fisheries are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified."

Scottish fishers even spearheaded the MSC certification of their north-east Atlantic mackerel fishery, which while it remains within the MSC programme, it has been suspended because of the overfishing carried out on the stock by Iceland and the Faroes.

“In the meantime, we have put in place a corrective action plan that abides by a code of best practice developed by the Mackerel Industry Northern Sustainability Alliance (MINSA) on behalf of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group to ensure the sustainable catching of mackerel,” Gatt added.

Jim Masters, MCS Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme Manager, said the best choice for mackerel remains fish caught off Scotland using traditional hand lining practices.

“It’s without doubt the most sustainable method of fishing for mackerel and other species. It is labour intensive but produces quality fish which should attract a premium price,” he commented.

Meanwhile, fish caught not by Scotland but rather by other EU and Norwegian vessels, remains a “fish to eat with caution,” according to the MCS, as these countries have adopted a long-term management plan to help keep the stocks healthy, The Telegraph reports.

Scotland's Fishing Minister Richard Lochhead also welcomed the MCS’s upgrade of Scottish mackerel and noted the importance of the body recognising the difference between what is sustainably caught and what is not, so that the grading can be fair.

"Scotland's fishermen have stuck to the principles of an international agreement and fixed limits in tandem with Norway -- Iceland and Faroe have refused to negotiate and set unilateral quotas,” he stated, BBC reports. "So it is good news for our fishermen that MCS have taken this on board so our fishermen are not punished further because of the actions of others -- the bottom line is that sustainably-caught Scottish mackerel is good to eat."

He added that while the mackerel stock is currently healthy, scientific surveys show that it may not be for long, as it is beginning to be affected by the overfishing of Iceland and the Faroes, which highlights the importance of reaching an agreement with these parties.

Related articles:

- Scottish fishers assert that the mackerel stock remains sustainable
- Conservation group downgrades mackerel rating

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

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