ICES says mackerel catch can more than double in 2027

The recommended mackerel catch for 2027 is 352,938 tonnes, a 102 per cent increase on this year, according to advice from ICES reported by Kringvarp Føroya (KVF). ICES says the stock is healthy enough to support the increase.

ICES recommends raising the maximum catches for all three pelagic fish stocks it assessed: mackerel, blue whiting and Norwegian spring-spawning herring.

The advice says the mackerel spawning stock has risen above the Blim limit reference point. As a result, the drastic measures introduced last year to protect the stock are no longer needed.

For blue whiting, ICES recommends a catch of 1,064,000 tonnes, 25 per cent more than this year. It attributes the increase to strong recruitment from the 2024 year class, which has now joined the spawning stock.

The recommended catch for Norwegian spring-spawning herring is 588,000 tonnes, 10 per cent higher than this year.