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Mackerel overfishing: the EU denounces an agreement between the United Kingdom and Norway

by AI | 23.Dec 2025 | Europe in brief AI

The European Union on Tuesday condemned a fishing agreement concluded between the United Kingdom, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, likely to cause “irreversible damage to the mackerel population” in the North Atlantic, according to Brussels.

Mackerel are displayed in a fish shop in Manosque, in the southeast of France, on September 22, 2023. (Photo: JOEL SAGET / AFP)

Brussels – Announced on December 16, a fishing agreement between the British, Norwegian, Faroese and Icelandic authorities sets “a total allowable catch (TAC) of more than 299,000 tonnes” of mackerel in 2026, “that is 72% more than scientific recommendations,” Brussels laments.

“This decision was taken without prior consultation with the European Union,” the Commission points out in a statement sent to AFP.

“This comes at a time when the stock is already below biological limits and risks collapsing, thereby worsening the problem of overfishing. Such excessive exploitation threatens to cause irreversible damage to the mackerel population,” Brussels warns.

In France, representatives of fishers earlier denounced the “unilateral” and “unacceptable” decision of the United Kingdom, Norway, the Faroes and Iceland, “States that do not respect scientific advice,” but which will nevertheless be able to export their products to the EU. (December 23, 2025)