9th edition, No.3, November 2008

A bigger market share for mackerel

The Dutch fishing fleet fishes for mackerel south-west of the British Isles and in the northern part of the North Sea between October and February. Since the mackerel population is healthy, the total allowable catch has been stable for many years and is approximately 650,000 tons a year. Partly because mackerel is already deep-frozen on board ship, it is easily obtainable all year round – fresh, steamed or smoked.
Almost all mackerel is exported, 95 percent is deep-frozen whole, and 6 percent is smoked. Most of the mackerel is exported to Poland, Russia and Nigeria.
The Dutch mackerel fishery has applied for the MSC certificate, and mackerel fishermen are also endeavouring to limit any unwanted by-catches to a minimum by using modern fishing techniques.