Does UK canned mackerel still contain mackerel?
Supermarket shelves are seeing a growing shift from traditional mackerel to Chilean jack mackerel, as retailers respond to sustainability concerns and the continuing North-East Atlantic mackerel quota dispute.
Consumers buying canned mackerel in UK supermarkets may increasingly find that the product contains a different species of fish from the mackerel they expect.
Several major retailers and suppliers have moved towards Chilean jack mackerel, a species that is related by name but is biologically distinct from the mackerel traditionally sold in tins.
Princes, which supplies retailers including Tesco and Sainsbury’s, switched its branded mackerel range last year to Chilean jack mackerel. Lidl is also transitioning to sustainably sourced Chilean jack mackerel.
The change has prompted some consumer confusion because jack mackerel is not the same fish as the familiar Atlantic mackerel.
Jack mackerel belongs to the Carangidae family and is a species of Trachurus, whereas true mackerel belongs to the Scombridae family, including species in the Scomber and Rastrelliger genera.
There are also nutritional and sensory differences. According to Princes’ product packaging, its jack mackerel contains around half the omega-3 and approximately 100 fewer calories per 100g than its true mackerel equivalent.
Some consumers have reported differences in taste and texture, with comments about larger bones and less oily flesh.
The move towards jack mackerel is primarily being driven by concerns over the sustainability of North-East Atlantic mackerel.
Mackerel quota dispute
The region’s mackerel fishery has been at the centre of a long-running international dispute involving the UK, EU, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Russia.
Known as the “mackerel war”, the dispute centres on the allocation of fishing opportunities between the countries and territories exploiting the shared stock.
According to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), catches of North-East Atlantic mackerel have exceeded scientifically advised limits for many years. The resulting pressure on the stock has contributed to concerns about its long-term sustainability.
The fishery has consequently lost Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification – an important consideration for major retailers with sustainable seafood sourcing policies.
Chilean jack mackerel, by contrast, has sustainability certification, making it an attractive alternative for retailers seeking to maintain a canned mackerel-style product on their shelves.
Waitrose has taken a broader approach, stopping the sourcing of fresh, chilled and frozen true mackerel in April because of overfishing concerns. Its canned mackerel products are also being phased out as existing stocks are sold.
A wider European trend
The change is not confined to the UK.
Supermarkets in other European countries are also moving away from true mackerel. In the Netherlands, retailers including Albert Heijn and Jumbo have stopped selling the species, while Swedish retailer Axfood began replacing its mackerel-in-tomato product with jack mackerel earlier this year.
The developments come at a time when canned seafood is experiencing something of a renaissance. Attractive packaging and premium products have helped tinned fish become increasingly popular, particularly among younger consumers.
That renewed interest makes the question of exactly what species is inside the tin increasingly important.
Labelling changes
There has also been a recent change to UK fish-naming rules.
Until December 2025, Trachurus species could be marketed in the UK using names including “horse mackerel”, “jack”, “scad” or “trevally”, but “jack mackerel” was not an authorised commercial name.
Following the introduction of Princes’ new product, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) changed the rules to allow “jack mackerel” to be used.
For consumers, the distinction is therefore becoming increasingly significant: a tin labelled mackerel may now look very similar to the traditional product, while containing a different species with different nutritional and sensory characteristics.
For the seafood industry, however, the switch highlights a much bigger issue – the consequences of years of disagreement over the management of one of Europe’s most commercially important pelagic fisheries.
Until an international agreement can be reached that brings catches back into line with scientific advice, retailers are likely to remain under pressure to find sustainable alternatives.
So, does UK canned mackerel still contain mackerel?
Increasingly, the answer is: check the species name on the label!
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