Waitrose Pulls Mackerel from Shelves Following Concerns About Overfishing
Waitrose is suspending sales of mackerel across its stores, saying that current fishing levels are too high to meet its sustainability standards.
The supermarket will stop sourcing fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by 29th April, with tinned products disappearing once existing stock runs out. It says it’s the first major UK retailer to take the fish off shelves over concerns about overfishing in the north-east Atlantic.
The decision follows warnings from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which has advised steep cuts to mackerel catches to prevent long-term damage to the stock. Scientists have called for reductions of up to 70% in some areas after years of fishing above recommended levels.
Although the UK, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands agreed in December to cut catches by 48%, Waitrose said that still falls short of what scientists recommend. From May 2026, north-east Atlantic mackerel will no longer meet the retailer’s responsible sourcing rules under the Sustainable Seafood Coalition code.
Jake Pickering, head of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries at Waitrose, said: “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.”
Conservation groups welcomed the move. Kerry Lyne of the Marine Conservation Society said: “To keep favourites like mackerel on the menu, we need support right across the supply chain with fishing kept within sustainable limits.”
Charles Clover, co-founder of the Blue Marine Foundation, said the species had dropped sharply over the past decade because countries had failed to stick to scientific advice. “This crisis has been ignored for too long,” he said. “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.”
Waitrose said it will replace mackerel with alternatives including herring, sardines, seabass and trout. New products such as hot smoked herring and MSC-certified frozen sardines will be rolled out, with the retailer aiming to become the first to offer 100% MSC-certified tinned sardines.
Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, which owns Waitrose, said: “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.”
The move has not gone down well with parts of the fishing industry, particularly in Scotland where much of the UK’s mackerel fleet operates. But environmental groups argue that without deeper cuts, one of the region’s most valuable fish stocks could face serious long-term risks.
There is currently no set date for when mackerel could return to Waitrose shelves.
