Mackerel slips down rankings in guide to sustainable fish

MACKEREL is under immense pressure from overfishing, conservationists warned, as they lowered its rating in the latest sustainable fish guide.

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The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has updated its Good Fish Guide, which uses a traffic light system for consumers, along with a one to five scale for businesses, to highlight seafood which is sustainable to eat.

The charity warns that once-sustainable mackerel is in "such decline" that Northeast Atlantic stock caught by midwater trawl which makes up most of what supermarkets and restaurants sell has been downgraded from a three to a four, recommending businesses do not source it.

Mackerel caught in the Northeast Atlantic by hook and line moves down from a two to a three in the ratings.

The Marine Conservation Society first took mackerel off the "best choice" list, downgrading it from green to amber, two years ago, due to overfishing. Now it is warning that mackerel numbers are reaching breaking point.

The charity said that although some management measures are in place, countries including the UK, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands are all fishing the stock but there is no overall management plan across the fishery to prevent overfishing.