Following years of political deadlock, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is calling on governments of nations that fish in the North East Atlantic to establish quota sharing agreements for Atlantic mackerel, Atlanto-scandian (AS) herring, and blue whiting. Given the sensitivity of small pelagic species to the environment, international cooperation is essential as climate change puts pressure on marine resources. The NGO says it is critical to safeguard these important fish stocks for future food security, human health and marine ecology.

MSC analysis of new data from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) published on 30 September 2026 shows:

- unilateral quotas for mackerel have resulted in catches exceeding the scientific advice by, on average, 32% over the past 10 years. While the mackerel stock biomass is slightly improved, it remains close to the critical threshold and continued overfishing could undermine this early sign of improvement and prevent the stock from recovering to safe biological levels.

- combined AS herring catches for all nations fishing the stock are now nearly in line with the recommended total allowable catch (TAC).

- Blue whiting biomass is currently healthy, but continued overfishing remains a risk.

- in the last 10 years, the total combined excess catch of mackerel, AS herring and blue whiting equates to more than 7.2 million tonnes of fish which, if the science had been followed, should have been left in the sea.

The MSC is now urging the UK, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, EU, Greenland and Russia to seize the opportunity during the upcoming annual North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) negotiations to secure landmark agreements for all three of these shared stocks.

North East Atlantic small pelagic stocks represent some of the largest fish populations in Europe and are critically important to the health of the marine ecosystem, local economies and global seafood supply chains. These fish are an affordable seafood option for consumers in many countries, providing critical nutrition and packed full of Omega-3 fatty acids essential for human health. Yet they have been overexploited due to persistent failure by governments to allocate quota shares in line with science, which is a fundamental principle of good fisheries management. As a result, the fisheries lost their MSC certification, a globally recognised marker for fisheries sustainability.

Now, more than ever, nations must set and agree management measures to protect these shared resources. With global average sea surface temperatures reaching record highs in 2026 and projected to rise further next year, swift action is required to ensure fishing is in line with scientific advice, managed through international frameworks that are adaptive and resilient to a rapidly changing climate and complex political environment.

Erin Priddle, Regional Director of Northern Europe said: “The urgent pressures from ocean warming and overfishing must serve as a wake up call to the leaders of these wealthy, data-rich nations to put aside political deadlock, work together to agree quotas in line with science, and reach a long-awaited sharing agreement for all three small pelagic stocks. Safeguarding the long-term sustainability and viability of these critically important species is vital to the marine ecosystem of the North, as well as to the communities that rely on them as sources of food and jobs.”

ENDS

Notes to Eds

References:

ICES Browse - International Council for the Exploration of the Sea research repository - Figshare [https://ices-library.figshare.com]

Evidence climate change impacts fish stock distribution: Changes of potential catches for North-East Atlantic small pelagic fisheries under climate change scenarios | Regional Environmental Change | Springer Nature Link [https://tinyurl.com/2tfs4e9j]

MSC research on climate change risk to sustainable fishing in Cell Reports Sustainability: Cell Reports Sustainability [https://tinyurl.com/yvzx2xsw]

Rising global sea surface temperatures highlights ocean under unprecedented strain Copernicus: Daily global sea surface temperature breaks 2024 record | Copernicus [https://tinyurl.com/huyfcw4k]

Key definitions:

‘Biomass’ is the amount or total mass (weight) of a fish stock in the ecosystem. It is calculated by multiplying the number of fish by their average mass. It is crucial for setting catch limits.

‘Stock’ is a unit used for assessments, catch limits and regulations - it may be an entire fish population or part of a population, or a mix of different populations grouped together for management purposes.

TAC (Total Allowable Catch) - Catch limits that are set for most commercial fish stocks.

The ‘coastal states’ include the UK, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands and the EU.

ABOUT THE MSC

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organisation which sets globally recognised standards for sustainable fishing and the seafood supply chain. Fisheries representing 20% of the world’s wild marine catch are engaged in its certification program. For more information visit msc.org or visit our social media pages.

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