Waitrose Suspends Mackerel Sourcing Amid Overfishing Crisis
Waitrose has announced it will cease selling mackerel across its UK stores, becoming the first major supermarket to take this drastic step in response to escalating concerns about unsustainable fishing practices. The retailer confirmed that fresh, chilled, and frozen mackerel, primarily sourced from Scottish waters, will be unavailable to shoppers by 29 April, with tinned varieties to follow once current stock is depleted.
Scientific Warnings Ignored by Governments
The decision comes as governments have repeatedly failed to implement catch limits recommended by scientists, jeopardising the long-term viability of mackerel stocks in the north-east Atlantic. The International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has issued stark warnings, advising a 70 per cent reduction in catches for 2026 across all regional mackerel stocks compared to 2025’s recommended levels. With the stock consistently fished above sustainable thresholds, this translates to a 77 per cent cut on the 755,143 tonnes scientists estimated would be caught in 2025.
Overfishing has resulted in depleting mackerel stocks, with ICES stating the species, and the wider fishing industry, could face long-term risks unless countries adhere to recommended catch limits. Waitrose noted that while a December decision by four coastal states to cut catches by 48 per cent was a step forward, it did not meet ICES advice, leading north-east Atlantic mackerel to no longer meet the supermarket’s responsible sourcing requirements.
Ethical Commitment and Customer Trust
Jake Pickering, head of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries at Waitrose, emphasised the retailer’s ethical stance, stating: “By suspending sourcing of mackerel at Waitrose we are reinforcing our ethical and sustainable business commitments, acting to tackle overfishing and protect the long-term health of our oceans and this crucial fish. Our customers trust us to source responsibly, and we are closely monitoring the fishery. We look forward to bringing mackerel back to our shelves once it meets our high sourcing standards.”
Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, added: “We believe sustainable food production must balance climate action, nature protection and responsible fish sourcing is fundamental to protecting our oceans. We will continue to work closely with suppliers and industry partners to support the recovery and responsible management of fish stocks.”
Conservationists Applaud Move
Conservationists have welcomed Waitrose’s decision and are urging other supermarkets to follow suit. Charles Clover, co-founder of conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation, highlighted that mackerel – one of the largest remaining commercial fish stocks in the north-east Atlantic – had declined 75 per cent in the last decade due to overfishing by nations including the UK.
Clover criticised the lack of international cooperation, saying: “They have put too little effort into the task of reaching agreement on a sharing arrangement – and some countries have been awarding themselves more quota than is justified by science. This crisis has been ignored for too long. We hope that this action by Waitrose sends it to the top of the political agenda. We call on other retailers to follow Waitrose’s example.”
Sustainable Alternatives and Future Plans
As alternatives, Waitrose is launching a new range of fish products, including hot smoked herring, hot smoked peppered herring, and hot smoked sweetcure seabass, all Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified. The retailer will also introduce MSC-certified frozen sardines from May as a sustainable replacement for frozen mackerel and plans to become the first retailer to sell 100 per cent MSC tinned sardines.
Waitrose stated it would maintain its relationship with mackerel suppliers, with new supplies of herring, seabass, sardines, and trout sourced through current partnerships. However, there is currently no predetermined timeframe for when mackerel might return to shelves, pending improvements in sustainability standards.
