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UK Supermarket Suspends Mackerel Sales in 'Stand Against Overfishing'
Waitrose halts sales of north-east Atlantic mackerel due to overfishing concerns after ICES advised a 70% catch reduction; coastal states agreed only 48%.
- Waitrose announced it will stop sourcing and selling north‑east Atlantic mackerel from Scottish waters by April 29, removing tinned mackerel once current stock sells out.
- In September 2025, ICES urged a 70% cut in catches to rebuild the stock, scientists said this meant a 77% reduction on the 755,143 tonnes estimated for 2025, while four coastal states agreed a 48% cut that Waitrose called insufficient.
- Conservationists pointed to long-term declines and scientific warnings: Charles Clover of the Blue Marine Foundation said mackerel declined 75% in 10 years, and the Marine Conservation Society warned it is under immense pressure.
- The supermarket will replace mackerel with MSC‑certified alternatives from May, introducing frozen sardines and hot smoked fish while north‑east Atlantic mackerel will fail sourcing standards from May 2026.
- Conservationists welcomed the move and urged other supermarkets to follow, while supporters hope it will push mackerel onto the political agenda amid government quota criticisms.
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Major UK supermarket stops selling mackerel to 'protect the long-term health of our oceans'
Waitrose is set to stop selling mackerel in the coming months to help "protect the long-term health of our oceans".The supermarket chain has said sourcing of fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel will be suspended by April 29.Tinned mackerel will also eventually disappear from the shelves once the current stock has sold.Instead, Waitrose is launching a new range of fish products including smoked and peppered herring and sweetcure seabass. TRENDING …
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources47
Leaning Left5Leaning Right4Center18Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 18%
C 67%
15%
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