UK supermarket Waitrose has suspended its mackerel sourcing in response to overfishing, with no time-frame as to when it will start sourcing mackerel again.

Waitrose highlighted that in September 2025, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommended that North-east Atlantic mackerel catches should be cut by 70% to help rebuild the stock to a sustainable level.

In December, four of the Coastal States agreed to cut mackerel catches by 48%, and from May 2026 North East Atlantic mackerel will no longer meet Waitrose’s responsible sourcing requirements in line with the Sustainable Seafood Coalition’s (SSC) codes of conduct.

Sourcing of fresh, chilled, and frozen mackerel will be suspended by 29th April 2026, and the retailer said that remaining tinned mackerel stock will be available until it has sold through.

Speaking at the Waitrose Food System Transformed Conference on 26th February, Jake Pickering, head of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries at Waitrose, commented: “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.”

Waitrose stated it would launch alternative fish choices across its smoked products, and its new supply of herring, seabass, sardines and trout will continue to be sourced through current supplier partnerships.

Seafish welcomes suspension

A spokesperson from Seafish said: “Seafish notes the announcement that Waitrose will suspend the sale and sourcing of mackerel products in the UK due to concerns about overfishing and the long-term sustainability of stocks. 

“The sustainable sourcing of seafood products is a priority shared by many stakeholders within the seafood supply chain, including retailers and fishing communities. 

“Healthy fish stocks are important for the economic well-being of coastal areas and the long-term viability of the seafood industry. 

“At the same time, we understand the implications this decision may have on the businesses and supply chains that depend on the pelagic fishery. 

“Many of those businesses have been actively involved in sustainability initiatives to support responsible management of mackerel and other species. We appreciate the hard work and effort from the pelagic sector to reduce fishing pressure on mackerel stocks.”