Fisheries face crisis as overfishing threatens Atlantic species including mackerel and herring

Fisheries across the North Atlantic are facing significant challenges, with overfishing impacting several key species, including mackerel, blue whiting, Icelandic spring herring, and deep-sea redfish. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has proposed reducing catch limits, except for herring, due to the anticipated entry of a strong year class into the fishery.

For mackerel, a drastic reduction of 22% in catch quotas is recommended for the next year, as the species has been overfished for years. Iceland and neighboring nations have struggled to reach cooperative agreements on the distribution of fishing quotas, exacerbating the situation. It’s noted that this year mackerel catches are expected to exceed recommendations by 29%.

Overfishing has persisted for fifteen years, with estimates suggesting that catches have exceeded advised limits by up to 86%. Fisheries experts indicate that a similar overfishing trend is evident in the Icelandic spring herring population, where this year’s overfishing is estimated at 15%. The situation in the blue whiting fishery is also critical, with a recommended 5% reduction in quotas.

Additionally, ICES is advising a moratorium on deep-sea redfish catches for the next three years due to significant decline in spawning stock biomass. Disputes are arising regarding the species’ structure, particularly with Russian claims concerning the Greenland Sea stock, leading to quota allocations that surpass advised catch limits. These management challenges call for urgent international collaboration to ensure the sustainability of these vital fish populations.