Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to ban the sale of mackerel from May, taking a significant step to support sustainable fishing and safeguard ocean ecosystems. The supermarket will stop sourcing all fresh, chilled, and frozen mackerel by 29 April, with tinned mackerel lines removed once existing stock is sold.
This decisive action follows mounting worries over mackerel supplies, especially from the northeast Atlantic. The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas recently recommended a drastic 70% reduction in fishing quotas to prevent overfishing in these waters.
According to Waitrose, northeast Atlantic mackerel no longer meets the retailer’s strict responsible sourcing standards. Jake Pickering, Waitrose’s head of agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries, emphasized the company’s commitment: “By suspending mackerel sourcing, we reinforce our ethical and sustainable business values, tackling overfishing and protecting the long-term health of our oceans and this vital fish species.”
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Waitrose plans to monitor the fishery closely and promises to reintroduce mackerel to its shelves once sustainable sourcing standards are met.
To offer alternative nutritious options, the supermarket will launch Hot Smoked Herring, Hot Smoked Peppered Herring, and Hot Smoked Sweetcure Seabass in April, alongside sustainably certified frozen sardines coming in May. Dr Joanne Lunn, head of health and nutrition at Waitrose, highlighted the benefits: “These products provide a powerful nutritional profile similar to mackerel, rich in omega-3 fatty acids that support heart, brain, and eye health.”
Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, explained that responsible fishing fits within broader environmental commitments, including net zero targets, zero deforestation, biodiversity protection, and nature-based science targets. “Sustainable food production requires balancing climate action and nature preservation,” Rompani said. “Responsible fish sourcing is essential for protecting ocean ecosystems.”
Waitrose intends to maintain close collaboration with suppliers and industry partners to aid in the recovery and responsible management of fish stocks, demonstrably leading the way toward ethical seafood sourcing in the UK.