Mackerel Armageddon

Member’s Post ::

This year, many anglers found the mackerel very elusive. Arrivals were often late and quantities in some areas, relatively sparse. As the summer progressed, reports came in from Iceland saying that they had an unparalleled inundation of mackerel up there. The Icelandic fishermen ended up asking their government for increased mackerel quota, as these fish consisted a substantial bycatch in their herring fishery. This situation could be another instance of global warming, causing fish species to migrate further north. It could also be a contribution as to why mackerel were sparser in our coastal waters this year.

Historically, Iceland and Norway have never had a traditional mackerel fishery. However, if the seasonal migration continues into their waters, then it’s not surprising  that they want “a slice of the action”. It is here that potential problems can occur. The countries with traditional mackerel fleets, under the auspices of the Pelagic RAC, divide up the catch quotas, amongst themselves, to allegedly keep the stocks sustainable. We now have two new countries unilaterally declaring that they have given themselves a quota outside  Pelagic RAC control. If this happens, then the total proposed total catch will be 23% over scientific advice.

Now we have to wait and see what happens. The Pelagic RAC has complained to the EU, presumably to put pressure on the two countries in question. The logical solution would have Iceland and Norway, as they now appear to have mackerel stocks, joining the Pelagic RAC, but that would mean more nations looking for a slice of the limited quota. The existing members would then have their individual quota share cut. No doubt, that would have every commercial up in arms..

If the worst case scenario happens, Iceland and Norway will take their self declared quota. The other nations will take their quota as agreed by the Pelagic RAC, as they will refuse to cut their share. Mackerel stocks take a hammering. Once again, fish quotas become a political football. The losers will be the poor old mackerel in the middle, and maybe us, the leisure angler. Perhaps next year, we will have a better chance of catching a cod than a mackerel, and we all know how difficult that can be.

Background reading.

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