In late December 2025, the European Commission expressed its deep concern about the agreement on mackerel fishing quotas reached between the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, without prior consultation with the European Union.
According to the Commission, this agreement poses serious risks for the sustainability of the mackerel stock in the north-east Atlantic, which is already overfished (see EUROPE 13776/12). The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) recommends a total allowable catch (TAC) of 174,357 tonnes for 2026, whereas the agreement sets a TAC of 299,010 tonnes, which is 72% higher. Fishing pressure could intensify further, taking into account historic Russian catches, posing a risk of irreversible damage to the stock and jeopardising the livelihoods of fishermen. Historically, Russia has caught more than 100,000 tonnes a year. The agreement could also increase total fishing pressure on the stock in 2026 to more than 400,000 tonnes, far above the recommended level.
The EU has set a provisional TAC in line with scientific advice and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The European regulation on 2026 quotas provides for a provisional TAC of 156,921 tonnes, corresponding to 90% of the main scientific advice from ICES, applicable for the first six months of 2026. The Commission has requested clarification from the parties involved and will assess the agreement’s compatibility with international law. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)