In December, the countries of the European Union had followed the scientific recommendation with a 70% decrease in catches in 2026 compared to 2025. The European Union on Monday increased its quotas for mackerel fishing in 2026 in the North Atlantic, against the advice of scientists who warned of risks to the species.
In December, EU countries had followed the scientific recommendation, with a 70% decrease in catches in 2026 compared to 2025. On Monday, they decided to only reduce by 48% to address fishermen’s concerns and align with neighboring countries: UK, Norway, Faroe Islands, and Iceland.
Due to climate change, Atlantic mackerel has migrated north and faced overfishing risks amid geopolitical disagreements. The species is now in a danger zone where reproduction is no longer guaranteed. The EU blames UK, Norway, Faroe Islands, and Iceland for overexploiting the resource.
Failing to reach an agreement with them on drastic fishing reduction, European countries have aligned with their alternative scenario: a 48% reduction in catches.
Near double: The European Union responded to French fishermen’s demands to “harmonize reduction efforts with those of Nordic countries” and “limit the severity of the quota cuts”. For 2026, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommended a fourfold reduction in mackerel fishing in the North Atlantic to about 174,000 tons in 2026, for both EU and non-EU countries. The 48% reduction imposed on Monday corresponds to around 299,000 tons of catches, nearly double.
France did not oppose this upward revision of quotas. However, in the longer term, French Fisheries Minister Catherine Chabaud called for the EU to “sit back at the negotiating table to discuss a multilateral agreement” with neighboring countries on mackerel to “avoid overfishing” as there is an urgent need to not exert too much pressure on the resource.
Fishing is a sensitive topic in discussions between Brussels and Iceland, which could resume its EU accession negotiations if the “yes” vote prevails in a referendum at the end of August.
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