Waitrose suspends mackerel sales as ICES calls for 70% catch cut.
Waitrose will suspend the sale of fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by 29 April, citing concerns over overfishing of north-east Atlantic stocks.
The move follows advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which last September recommended a 70% reduction in mackerel catches to allow the stock to recover after years of overexploitation.
In December, UK and other coastal states agreed to a 48% cut, below the level advised by ICES. Environmental groups have warned that catches have exceeded recommended levels by an average of 39% since 2010.
The Marine Conservation Society downgraded mackerel in its Good Fish Guide sustainability ratings last year, moving it from a three to a four on its five-point scale.
Waitrose said it would promote herring, sardines and sea bass as alternatives.
The decision highlights the increasing volatility in the wild pelagic category, long positioned as a sustainable alternative to larger demersal species such as cod. Mackerel is one of the most commercially important wild fish species in UK retail.
For the seafood value chain, the development underscores how limited the pool of scalable, certified wild alternatives has become when catch advice tightens sharply. Retail delistings of high-volume wild species may have knock-on effects across processing, pricing and substitution patterns in chilled cabinets.
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the UK is working with other nations to reduce pressure on mackerel stocks while protecting fishing jobs.