Mackerel stocks 'near breaking point' due to overfishing, conservationists warn
Conservationists called for countries to work together to develop a strategy that leads to the recovery of the mackerel stock.
Mackerel is under immense pressure from overfishing, conservationists have warned, as they lowered its rating in the latest sustainable fish guide.
Britain's Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has updated its Good Fish Guide, which uses a traffic light system for consumers, along with a one to five scale for businesses, to highlight seafood which is sustainable to eat.
The charity warns once-sustainable mackerel is in "such decline" that North-East Atlantic stock caught by midwater trawl — which makes up most of what supermarkets and restaurants sell — has been downgraded from a three to a four, recommending businesses do not source it.
Mackerel caught in the North-East Atlantic by hook and line moves down from a two to a three in the ratings.
The Marine Conservation Society first took mackerel off the "best choice" list, downgrading it from green to amber, two years ago, due to overfishing.
Now it is warning mackerel numbers are reaching breaking point.
The charity said although some management measures were in place, a number of countries are all fishing the stock but there is no overall management plan across the fishery to prevent overfishing.
The catch limits set by countries have consistently exceeded scientifically recommended levels by between 5% and 80% since 2009, and in the past four years, the total allowable catches were on average 39% higher than the scientific advice, the MCS said.
Although the amount of mackerel caught has typically fallen below the catch limits, they have still exceeded recommended levels by an average of 23%, or 188,410 tonnes, the charity said.
The conservationists called for countries to work together to develop a strategy that leads to the recovery of the mackerel stock.
Alice Moore, Good Fish Guide manager at the MCS, said: "It's deeply concerning to see a source of seafood that was once a sustainable choice in such decline.
"We're witnessing a steady decline in numbers, and they are nearing a breaking point."
Under the Good Fish Guide, which is updated twice a year, seafood is rated depending on where or how a species is caught or farmed, with the one and two grades coded green for the best choice options, while fish are amber-listed and given a three or four rating for improvements needed.
Those rated worst, with a red traffic light and a five-rating, are classed as "fish to avoid", while the MCS recommends businesses such as supermarkets and restaurants do not sell fish rated lower than a three.
This spring's Good Fish Guide update also sees monkfish caught in the North Sea move from amber to green — becoming a "best choice" fish — and blue marlin off the red list, from a five to a four, due to what the charity describes as a "slight improvement" in fishing pressure.
