Dire Warning on Mackerel Stocks: Princes Group Commits to MSC-Certified Chilean Mackerel

Princes Group has taken a bold step towards sustainable seafood sourcing by announcing its transition to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-Certified Chilean Mackerel. This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to responsible sourcing as part of a broader movement to prioritize MSC-certified seafood.

<h2>Shift in Product Offering</h2>
<p>Starting October 2025, consumers will find Princes’ MSC-certified Chilean Mackerel available at Tesco and Sainsbury’s. This shift comes as the company ceases sourcing from the contentious Northeast Atlantic pelagic fishery. The rollout will extend to additional retailers across the UK and the Netherlands in 2026.</p>

<h2>Addressing Overfishing Concerns</h2>
<p>Amid rising concerns regarding the status of Northeast Atlantic Mackerel (<em>Scomber Scombrus</em>), Princes is leading the market transition to Chilean Mackerel (<em>Trachurus murphyi</em>), commonly known as Jack Mackerel. This particular fish meets the MSC's stringent sustainability standards, which assess fish stock health, ecosystem impact, and fishery management effectiveness.</p>

<h2>Princes’ Commitment to Sustainable Seafood</h2>
<p>David McDiarmid, Corporate Relations Director at Princes, emphasized the importance of sustainability: “We are committed to providing more independently certified sustainable seafood options to shoppers. Consumers increasingly expect reassurance that their fish has been sustainably sourced, and MSC certification is the best way to achieve this."</p>

<p>“As a member of the <a href="https://napafisheries.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA)</a> since its inception, we have consistently urged Coastal States to establish quotas based on scientific advice. However, progress has been insufficient, leading to warnings of stock collapse. This change serves as an active response to those concerns,” he added.</p>

<h2>Product Enhancements and Availability</h2>
<p>The transition to Chilean mackerel follows an extensive product review and consumer feedback process that affirmed the decision. Furthermore, Princes is set to enhance its mackerel offerings: mackerel fillets in olive oil will upgrade to **100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil**, with variants in tomato sauce, spicy tomato, and sunflower oil scheduled for release in Tesco and Sainsbury’s in October 2025. The Princes brand sold in the Netherlands will also adopt the Chilean MSC source.</p>

<h2>A Positive Step for Sustainable Choices</h2>
<p>George Clark, Programme Director for the UK and Ireland at MSC, remarked, “The proactive steps taken by Princes to provide UK shoppers with more certified fish and seafood choices reflect significant progress. This announcement reaffirms the company's commitment to expanding its range of MSC-labeled products and introduces a new, certified species for UK consumers.”</p>

<p>Clark stressed the urgency in addressing the Northeast Atlantic mackerel’s failure to regain its MSC certification, stating, “This shift sends a robust market signal highlighting the necessity for certified sustainable choices. We hope to see more options for consumers looking to ‘buy blue’ in their seafood purchases.”</p>

<h2>Historical Context and Future Goals</h2>
<p>Back in 2021, Princes pledged that by the end of 2025, 100% of its UK branded tuna would come from MSC-certified sustainable fisheries, building on an earlier milestone of 100% responsibly sourced tuna by the end of that same year. The roadmap outlined by Princes has seen significant achievements, with 25% of its tuna being MSC-certified by the end of 2023, and further gains to reach 50% by 2024. Notably, Princes NL achieved 100% MSC-certified tuna sourcing by the end of 2022.</p>

<p class="disclaimer">
    *For more information on the current state of mackerel stocks, visit the following links:
    <a title="Mackerel in Decline" href="https://www.mcsuk.org/news/mackerel-in-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MCS Article</a> |
    <a title="Scomber Species Overview" href="https://fischratgeber.wwf.de/species/scomber-scombrus-s-colias/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WWF Fish Guide</a>
</p>