11 Aug 2026
Photo by Hamish Duncan Landings at Lerwick, Scotland’s second busiest fishing port, fell 31% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, a decline the Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) has blamed largely on this year’s steep cuts to cod and saithe quotas. Marine Management Organisation figures show landings across […]
04 Aug 2026
Photo by Raul Ling A public consultation has opened on a draft Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) for the Irish Sea’s demersal fisheries, setting out proposed measures to rebuild depleted cod and whiting stocks while reviewing how Nephrops, the region’s most valuable catch, is managed in future. A joint plan across three administrations The draft Demersal […]
09 Jun 2026
Photo by Raul Ling The European Commission has published its annual communication on the state of EU fisheries, reporting continued long-term progress towards sustainable fishing while warning of declining stocks in several critical sea basins, a fuel cost crisis threatening to wipe out recent economic gains, and persistent failures to eliminate discards. The report, […]
18 May 2026
Photo by Lance Anderson A new study has identified the specific genetic mutations that allowed the Atlantic herring to colonise the Baltic Sea thousands of years ago, findings that shed new light on evolution in action, and that their lead author says provide a compelling argument for much more restrictive industrial fishing of the […]
14 Apr 2026
Image description: a plate of fish and chips. Photo by Nik British consumers are being urged to “completely avoid” UK-caught cod after the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) downgraded the species to its lowest possible rating in its twice-yearly Good Fish Guide – a stark verdict on a fish that has been central to British culture for generations. […]
10 Mar 2026
Photo by Franki Chamaki A wave of UK supermarkets is pulling back from northeast Atlantic mackerel amid growing concern over stock levels, after scientific advice called for a 70% reduction in catches to allow populations to recover. Waitrose moved first, announcing on 26 February that it would suspend sourcing of fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by […]
03 Mar 2026
Photo by Richard Bell Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to suspend the sourcing and sale of north-east Atlantic mackerel, the Guardian reports, citing scientific advice that current catch levels are insufficient to rebuild the stock to sustainable levels. Fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel will be removed from sale by 29 April 2026, with tinned products […]
30 Dec 2025
The UK government has published new determinations for fishing opportunities in 2026, confirming that catch limits for whiting in the Celtic Sea will be set higher than scientific recommendations. The decision, released on 23 December 2025, follows international negotiations aimed at balancing the long-term health of fish stocks with the economic survival of coastal […]
