Conservationists have called for urgent action to stop the collapse of stocks in the north-east Atlantic. The latest advice from the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommends a catch limit of 174,357 tonnes be set in 2026 for all mackerel stocks in the region and its adjacent waters. This marks a 70% reduction from the catch limit recommended for 2025, but it also comes as a 77% reduction on the 755,143 tonnes that the scientists estimate will be caught this year. Jonny Hughes, Senior UK Marine Policy manager at Blue Marine Foundation, said: “The largest, most valuable fishery has been driven to the brink by continued and massive overfishing… If we lose north-east Atlantic mackerel, there is no alternative – you can’t catch this species anywhere else… Short-term economic gain can no longer justify ignoring scientific advice… Instead, ensuring long-term sustainability of our seas must be the priority for this year.”
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