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Marine Conservation Society Says Eating Mackerel is No Longer Sustainable Due to Overfishing

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Nicholas Vincent is a passionate environmentalist and freelance writer. He is deeply committed to promoting... Read More

sale at the port fish market of freshly caught mackerel in their boxes

Mackerel, once considered an ‘eco-friendly’ seafood option, is now facing a decline in population due to overfishing in the northeast Atlantic. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has moved mackerel to the amber list in their UK Good Fish Guide, urging consumers to think twice before choosing this fish. The amber rating indicates that improvements, such as better management to end overfishing, are needed to protect mackerel stocks.

The MCS highlights that countries catching mackerel, including Norway, Iceland, the UK, and EU countries, are not cooperating to address overfishing. Although these fishing states agreed to limit total mackerel catches in 2022, they exceeded the scientifically advised quota by 42 percent. The UK alone is responsible for about 17 percent of the total mackerel catch, with over 220,000 tonnes caught in 2021, valued at £240 million or nearly $300 million.

The decline in mackerel populations has wider environmental implications, as the fish serves as a crucial food source for whales, dolphins, and tuna. The MCS is urging the UK government and other countries to improve stock management, collect more data, and implement monitoring measures, such as cameras.

Other fish species, such as the European eel and Celtic cod, continue to be red-rated as “fish to avoid” due to population declines and unsustainable fishing practices. The European eel, for example, is more endangered than the Bengal tiger, with a 95 percent population decrease in the past decade.

Unfortunately, fishing will never be sustainable. If we want to save marine wildlife, dietary choices will have the most impact.

Fishing often involves the use of large nets and other fishing equipment that can harm and kill other marine species besides the targeted fish, including dolphins, turtles, and sharks. This bycatch can have a significant impact on the overall health of marine ecosystems.

Overfishing is also a major problem that has depleted fish populations around the world. As of July 2017, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists 455 critically endangered fish species, including 87 which are tagged as possibly extinct. The fewer fish in the ocean, the less food that larger marine animals have to survive on, leading to an imbalance in marine food webs.

Fish farms or aquaculture facilities are often promoted as a more sustainable alternative to wild-caught fish but these can cause significant environmental damage by polluting waterways with excess feed and fish waste, leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.

Most importantly, even ‘sustainable’ fishing practices may not be able to keep up with the growing demand for fish as our human population continues to increase. As a vegan, one can Support sustainable and ethical companies that are making seafood that tastes just like the real thing. These products have a lower impact on the environment and are more sustainable long term. Check out this newly debuted Sustainable Plant-Based Seafood Lineup!