SCOTTISH PELAGIC SECTOR DISAPPOINTED OVER WAITROSE MOVE

Scottish pelagic sector disappointed over Waitrose move. Scottish mackerel fishermen and processors under the auspices of the Scottish Pelagic Sustainability Group (SPSG) say they are extremely disappointed that supermarket chain Waitrose has announced it is to stop stocking north-east Atlantic mackerel from the end of April 2026.

Waitrose says it is taking the step because of the lack of a comprehensive sharing arrangement among coastal states participating in the fishery, as well as the perception that the stock is low.

SPSG represents all sectors of Scotland’s pelagic industry, including catching, processing and marketing, and was established to oversee the certification of its main fisheries (including mackerel) to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-label standard. The Group’s Chairman, Ian Gatt, said it was disappointing that Waitrose was unfairly penalising the UK, which has been at the forefront of trying to reach an agreement on quota shares between participating nations.

“The UK has led the way in trying to get a workable sharing arrangement in place to secure sustainable fishing for north-east Atlantic mackerel and we are perplexed why we should be punished for these efforts,” he said.

This has included a new four-party agreement between the UK, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland for 2026 that will reduce fishing pressure by a further nine per cent of the global Total Allowable Catch (TAC) on top of what had previously been achieved in a three-party agreement between the UK, Norway and the Faroe Islands. This deal came at a price to the UK in both share of the catch and greater access to other nations to UK waters to catch mackerel.

The UK is continuing to press for the EU and Greenland to come on board to secure a more comprehensive agreement.

“The UK, with support from mackerel fishermen and processors, is pressing hard to seek a solution, but the problem lies with other countries failing to show willingness to reach an agreement,” said Ian Gatt.

The UK pelagic sector is also leading the way in a range of sustainability initiatives for north-east Atlantic mackerel, including the Scottish Pelagic Industry Science Data Collection Programme, which collects data for the purposes of stock assessment and research to improve understanding of pelagic fisheries and stocks.

Ian Gatt added:

“The Scottish pelagic sector is committed to a sustainable future for mackerel catching in the north-east Atlantic and it does not make sense to penalise the UK for being at the forefront of trying to secure a comprehensive deal on mackerel quota shares.”

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